Single Idea 15116

[catalogued under 2. Reason / D. Definition / 6. Definition by Essence]

Full Idea

Since essences cause the other necessary features of a thing, so definitions, as the linguistic correlates of essences, explain, together with other axioms, the propositions describing those necessary features.

Gist of Idea

Essences cause necessary features, and definitions describe those necessary features

Source

Kathrin Koslicki (Essence, Necessity and Explanation [2012], 13.3.1)

Book Reference

'Contemporary Aristotelian Metaphysics', ed/tr. Tahko,Tuomas [CUP 2012], p.200


A Reaction

This is nice and clear. Definitions are NOT essences - they are the linguistic correlates of essences, and mirror those essences. The necessary features are not the only things needing explanation. That picture is too passive.

Related Idea

Idea 15111 In demonstration, the explanatory order must mirror the causal order of the phenomena [Koslicki]