Single Idea 12070

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

Full Idea

For Aristotle the essences of individual substances are individual rather than universal, ...since nothing universal can be a substance, nor can it be a principle or cause of a substance.

Gist of Idea

Individual essences are not universals, since those can't be substances, or cause them

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

This is the second of Witt's three theses which she offers in opposition to the orthodox interpretation of Aristotle, and again I think she is right.