Single Idea 16551

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

Full Idea

All that grasping an essence amounts to is understanding a real definition, that is, understanding a special kind of proposition.

Gist of Idea

Grasping an essence is just grasping a real definition

Source

E.J. Lowe (What is the Source of Knowledge of Modal Truths? [2013], 7)

Book Reference

-: 'Mind' [-], p.28


A Reaction

He refuses to 'reify' an essence, and says it is not an entity, so he seems to think that the definition is the essence, but Aristotle and I take the essence to be what is picked out by the correct definition - not the definition itself.

Related Idea

Idea 16548 An essence is what an entity is, revealed by a real definition; this is not an entity in its own right [Lowe]