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Full Idea
The 'explanatory characterization' says that the essential properties of an object are the object's deepest explanatory properties, which explain the other properties of the object - and which Copi claims is mind-independent.
Gist of Idea
Essential properties are the 'deepest' ones which explain the others
Source
report of Irving M. Copi (Essence and Accident [1954]) by Adolph Rami - Essential vs Accidental Properties §2
Book Ref
'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.6
A Reaction
It is, of course, normal to see a good explanation as being dependent on the interests of the audience. Perhaps this account should be in terms of causal powers. See Shoemaker on properties.
| 10937 | Essential properties are the 'deepest' ones which explain the others [Copi, by Rami] |
| 12303 | Within the four types of change, essential attributes are those whose loss means destruction [Copi] |
| 12307 | Modern science seeks essences, and is getting closer to them [Copi] |
| 12308 | In modern science, nominal essence is intended to be real essence [Copi] |
| 12310 | Real essences are scientifically knowable, but so are non-essential properties [Copi] |
| 12312 | The real essence of a thing is its powers, or 'dispositional properties' [Copi] |