Literary nominalism is a paradigm of thought that is interested in the interconnections between certain aspects of nominalist philosophy and theology and works of literature.
[3] Prior to Quack and Utz, Umberto Eco's novel, The Name of the Rose (1980; English translation in 1983), had rekindled interest in the conflict between late medieval nominalism and realism.
Eco's playful and ironic confrontation of both movements of thought questioned the somewhat simplistic separation present in mainstream histories of philosophy and theology.
The majority of such discussions of literary nominalism have centered on the works of Geoffrey Chaucer,[6] but also included Jean Molinet,[7] the Pearl Poet,[8] François Rabelais,[9] John Skelton,[10] Julian of Norwich,[11] Chrétien de Troyes,[12] the York and Townely Plays,[13] Renaissance plays,[14] Jonathan Swift,[15] Miguel de Cervantes,[16] and John Milton.
[17] A famous postmodern writer, Jorge Luis Borges, took an inimical stand towards nominalism in his short story, "Funes the Memorious".