Universals

This monograph presents a comprehensive defense of realist theories of universals, arguing that abstract properties exist independently of both human minds and their concrete instantiations. Moreland systematically examines the major philosophical positions on universals—extreme nominalism, moderate nominalism, and various forms of realism—while building a case for their objective existence that carries significant implications for theistic metaphysics.

The work begins by establishing the phenomenological and linguistic evidence for properties, demonstrating how ordinary experience and language presuppose their existence. Moreland then addresses the classic problem of the one and the many, showing how different theories attempt to explain the relationship between universal properties and particular objects. His analysis reveals fundamental weaknesses in nominalist accounts, particularly their inability to adequately explain abstract reference, the laws of nature, and the objectivity of resemblance relations.

Central to Moreland's argument is his critique of naturalistic metaphysics. He contends that naturalism cannot accommodate abstract objects within its ontology, as universals cannot be reduced to spatiotemporal entities or explained through evolutionary processes. This critique extends to prominent nominalist strategies, including resemblance nominalism, trope theory, and conceptualism, each of which he argues fails to provide a satisfactory account of predication and property possession.

The monograph's most significant contribution to the God debate emerges in its exploration of how universals relate to divine metaphysics. Moreland argues that the existence of abstract objects poses a serious challenge to naturalism while cohering well with theistic metaphysics. He examines various models for understanding the relationship between God and universals, including divine conceptualism and modified Platonism, ultimately defending a view that grounds universals in the divine nature without compromising divine sovereignty.

Throughout the work, Moreland engages with both historical figures—from Plato and Aristotle to medieval scholastics—and contemporary philosophers such as David Armstrong, Keith Campbell, and Michael Loux. His methodology combines careful conceptual analysis with attention to the broader metaphysical implications of competing theories. The monograph demonstrates how apparently technical debates in metaphysics connect directly to fundamental questions about the nature of reality, knowledge, and ultimately, the existence and nature of God. By establishing that realism about universals provides the most coherent philosophical position, Moreland strengthens the case for a theistic worldview that can accommodate both concrete and abstract dimensions of reality.