His opponent--Abelard--held that the universal was only nominally real; and on that account he was called a nominalist.

Truth, virtue, humanity, exist as units and realities, said William.

Truth, replied Abelard, is only the sum of all possible facts that are true, as humanity is the sum of all actual human beings.

The ideal bed is a form, made by God, said Plato.

The ideal bed is a name, imagined by ourselves, said Aristotle.