Single Idea 12067

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 4. Essence as Definition]

Full Idea

An Aristotelian essence is a nonlinguistic correlate of the definition of the entity in question.

Gist of Idea

An Aristotelian essence is a nonlinguistic correlate of the definition

Source

Charlotte Witt (Substance and Essence in Aristotle [1989], Intro)

Book Reference

Witt,Charlotte: 'Substance and Essence in Aristotle' [Cornell 1994], p.2


A Reaction

This is a simple and necessity corrective to the simplistic idea that Aristotle thought that essences just were definitions. Aristotle believes in real essences, not linguistic essences.