ABSTRACT
The author developed a theory about the nature of the philosophical view that there are such objects as universals, which makes it out to be completely different from what it appears to be. The long-standing dispute over this view, a dispute into which positivists have in recent years entered with the contention that 'There are such entities as universals' is literally nonsensical, was given an explanation according to which it is not the factual disagreement it gives one the impression of being. The philosophical view that metaphysics consists of statements that are devoid of sense is not the view it gives one the impression of being. It only states the fact that metaphysical sentences do not express either empirical or necessary propositions. Some philosophers wish to call metaphysical utterances 'nonsensical', and they attain their end by covertly redefining the word, without being explicitly aware of what they are doing.
