Single Idea 17388

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 10. Essence as Species]

Full Idea

It is widely agreed among biologists that no essential property can be found to demarcate species, so that if an essential property is necessary for a natural kind, species are not natural kinds.

Gist of Idea

It seems that species lack essential properties, so they can't be natural kinds

Source

John Dupré (The Disorder of Things [1993], 2)

Book Reference

Dupré,John: 'The Disorder of Things' [Harvard 1995], p.53


A Reaction

This uses 'essential' to mean 'necessary', but I would use 'essential' to mean 'deeply explanatory'. Biological species are, nevertheless, dubious members of an ontological system. Vegetables are the problem.

Related Idea

Idea 17379 Borders between species are much less clear in vegetables than among animals [Dupré]