Single Idea 11882

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 3. Individual Essences]

Full Idea

Individual essences are essential properties that are unique to them alone. ...If a set of properties is an individual essence of A, then A has the properties essentially, and no other actual or possible object actually or possibly has them.

Gist of Idea

No other object can possibly have the same individual essence as some object

Source

Penelope Mackie (How Things Might Have Been [2006], 2.1/2)

Book Reference

Mackie,Penelope: 'How Things Might Have Been' [OUP 2006], p.19


A Reaction

I'm unconvinced about this. Tigers have an essence, but individual tigers have individual essences over and above their tigerish qualities, yet the perfect identity of two tigers still seems to be possible.