Full Idea
The old Aristotelian idea that the identity of a thing might depend on its essential nature, which would dispose it to behave in certain ways, is firmly rejected by empiricists.
Gist of Idea
The old idea that identity depends on essence and behaviour is rejected by the empiricists
Source
Brian Ellis (Scientific Essentialism [2001], 1.10)
Book Reference
Ellis,Brian: 'Scientific Essentialism' [CUP 2007], p.48
A Reaction
Ellis is accusing empiricists of having a falsely passive concept of objects. This dispute is best captured in the disagreement between Locke and Leibniz on the subject.