Single Idea 11186

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

Full Idea

We would never use 'is essentially' for 'is necessarily' where vacuous properties are concerned, as in 'Socrates is essentially snub-nosed' or 'Socrates is essentially Socrates'.

Gist of Idea

'Essentially' won't replace 'necessarily' for vacuous properties like snub-nosed or self-identical

Source

Ruth Barcan Marcus (Essential Attribution [1971], p.193)

Book Reference

-: 'Nous' [-], p.193


A Reaction

This simple point does us a huge service in rescuing the word 'essential' from several hundred years of misguided philosophy.