Single Idea 11248

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 7. Essence and Necessity / b. Essence not necessities]

Full Idea

An essence is true in virtue of what the thing is in itself, but a necessary truth may be relational, as the consequence of the relation between two things and their essence. The necessary relation may be two-way, but the essential relation one-way.

Gist of Idea

Necessary truths can be two-way relational, where essential truths are one-way or intrinsic

Source

Vassilis Politis (Aristotle and the Metaphysics [2004], 2.3)

Book Reference

Politis,Vasilis: 'Aristotle and the Metaphysics' [Routledge 2004], p.46


A Reaction

He is writing about Aristotle, but has in mind Kit Fine 1994 (qv). Politis cites Plato's answer to the Euthyphro Question as a good example. The necessity comes from the intrinsic nature of goodness/piety, not from the desire of the gods.

Related Idea

Idea 13166 Essences are no use in mathematics, if all mathematical truths are necessary [Mancosu]