How shall a Christian view the problem of realism and nominalism?

Are universals conceived as the real essences of things and prior to things? (e.g., Platonic realism; Saint Anselm).

OR

Are universals real, but this time, not prior to things, but in them? (e.g., Aristotelian realism)

OR

Are universals not the essences of things but merely concepts of the mind (e.g., nominalism)

Does this affect how Luther and Calvin viewed the sovereignty of God? I forgot how the Occam debate anticipated certain ideas of the Reformation.

__________________
J. B. Atken
John Knox PCA
Layman, M.A. student at Louisiana College

Universals (or abstracta) exist in the mind of God. They are instantiated in concreta. They are necessary but are dependent upon God. So they really exist (realism) but not independent of God.

See Greg Welty's Paper for a helpful discussion.

__________________
^Brian Lanier^
Member: Redeemer Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Santa Maria, CA
Attending: First Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Sunnyvale, CA
http://www.lanier-perspective.blogspot.com

Would you recommend a particular Christian philosopher on this point?

__________________
Davidius
Husband of Emilia
Member: First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham (RPCNA) - Durham, NC
Student: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, German Literature and Classics

This may explain the old adage about Baptists being Methodists with shoes, and Presbyterians being Baptists who can read. To round out the adage, Lutherans might qualify as Presbyterians who drink to excess, and Episcopalians as Lutherans who know when to say when. - D.G. Hart

Ha, I was just adding that to the post when you commented!

Also, Thomas Morris' book Our Idea of God: An Introduction to Philosophical Theology has a short, but helpful, section on it.