Single Idea 12761

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 7. Essence and Necessity / a. Essence as necessary properties]

Full Idea

If necessity is explained in terms of possible worlds, ...then an essential property is a property that a thing has in all possible worlds in which it exists.

Gist of Idea

An essential property is one had in all the possible worlds where a thing exists

Source

Robert C. Stalnaker (Anti-essentialism [1979], p.71)

Book Reference

Stalnaker,Robert C.: 'Ways a World Might Be' [OUP 2003], p.71


A Reaction

This seems to me to be a quite shocking confusion of necessary properties with essential properties. The point is that utterly trivial properties can be necessary, but in no way part of the real essence of something.