Java has always had the ability to reference Class types, and, to instantiate instances of that type using a standard method: Object makeOne (Class fooClass) {

Java has always had the ability to reference Class types, and, to instantiate instances of that type using a standard method: Object makeOne (Class fooClass) { return fooClass.newInstance(); } You are missing the point of a factory pattern, which is informed by the non-accidental pattern name: 'Factory'. [edit: using generics it is even type safe]: <T> T makeOne (Class<T> clazz) { return clazz.newInstance(); }