Single Idea 12069

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

Full Idea

Aristotle describes form or essence as the cause of there being an actual individual substance, and as the cause of its being a unity rather than a heap.

Gist of Idea

Essence is the cause of individual substance, and creates its unity

Source

report of Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], ess) by Charlotte Witt - Substance and Essence in Aristotle Intro

Book Reference

Witt,Charlotte: 'Substance and Essence in Aristotle' [Cornell 1994], p.3


A Reaction

Wiggins defends the species-essence view (Idea 12068) by preferring the 'secondary substance' account in 'Categories' to Aristotle's ideas about 'form' which emerge later in 'Metaphysics'. I prefer Witt to Wiggins.

Related Idea

Idea 12068 Standardly, Aristotelian essences are taken to be universals of the species [Aristotle, by Witt]