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Single Idea 12808

[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / a. Scientific essentialism ]

Full Idea

It is very true that it is part of the complex idea of gold that it is a thing which has a real essence, the constitution of which is not otherwise known to us in detail.

Gist of Idea

Part of our idea of gold is its real essence, which is not known to us in detail

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (New Essays on Human Understanding [1704], 6.6.345), quoted by Nicholas Jolley - Leibniz and Locke on Essences p.201

Book Ref

'Leibniz: Critical and Interpretive Essays', ed/tr. Hooker,Michael [Manchester 1982], p.201

A Reaction

See also Idea 12807. This is the clearest possible statement of Leibniz's clear-cut scientific essentialism, here presented in opposition to Locke (thought I take the latter to be only bothered by our inability to know the hidden constitution).

Related Idea

Idea 12807 The word 'gold' means a hidden constitution known to experts, and not just its appearances [Leibniz]

The 37 ideas with the same theme [basics of essence as foundation of the laws]:

14049 We aim to know the natures which are observed in natural phenomena [Epicurus]
12118 Essences are part of first philosophy, but as part of nature, not part of logic [Bacon]
12550 If we knew the minute mechanics of hemlock, we could predict that it kills men [Locke]
11854 If there is some trace of God in things, that would explain their natural force [Leibniz]
11856 Qualities should be predictable from the nature of the subject [Leibniz]
12994 Gold has a real essence, unknown to us, which produces its properties [Leibniz]
12808 Part of our idea of gold is its real essence, which is not known to us in detail [Leibniz]
8931 The movement of pure essences constitutes the nature of scientific method [Hegel]
9363 Science seeks classification which will discover laws, essences, and predictions [Lewis,CI]
12307 Modern science seeks essences, and is getting closer to them [Copi]
11189 Dispositional essences are special, as if an object loses them they cease to exist [Marcus (Barcan)]
12175 Galilean science aimed at true essences, as the ultimate explanations [Popper]
11192 If causes are the essence of diseases, then disease is an example of a relational essence [Putnam, by Williams,NE]
11190 Archimedes meant by 'gold' the hidden structure or essence of the stuff [Putnam]
6615 A species requires a genus, and its essence includes the essence of the genus [Ellis]
5459 Essentialists say dispositions are basic, rather than supervenient on matter and natural laws [Ellis]
5461 The essence of uranium is its atomic number and its electron shell [Ellis]
13566 A proton must have its causal role, because without it it wouldn't be a proton [Ellis]
13579 What is most distinctive of scientific essentialism is regarding processes as natural kinds [Ellis]
13581 Scientific essentialism is more concerned with explanation than with identity (Locke, not Kripke) [Ellis]
13594 The ontological fundamentals are dispositions, and also categorical (spatio-temporal and structural) properties [Ellis]
15951 Alchemists tried to separate out essences, which influenced later chemistry [Alexander,P]
12085 Reality is directional [Witt]
11959 Science works when we assume natural kinds have essences - because it is true [Molnar]
9448 Location in space and time are non-power properties [Molnar, by Mumford]
11930 One essential property of a muon doesn't entail the others [Molnar]
9215 Causation is easier to disrupt than logic, so metaphysics is part of nature, not vice versa [Fine,K]
10411 Two properties can have one power, and one property can have two powers [Swoyer]
12239 The real essentialist is not merely a scientist [Oderberg]
15702 Essentialism doesn't mean we know the essences [Gelman]
15705 Essentialism encourages us to think about the world scientifically [Gelman]
17479 The nature of an element must survive chemical change, so it is the nucleus, not the electrons [Hendry]
17485 Maybe water is the smallest part of it that still counts as water (which is H2O molecules) [Hendry]
17484 Maybe the nature of water is macroscopic, and not in the microstructure [Hendry]
17396 The colour of gold is best explained by relativistic effects due to fast-moving inner-shell electrons [Scerri]
16760 Substantial forms were a step towards scientific essentialism [Pasnau]
16976 Scientific essentialists tend to characterise essence in terms of modality (not vice versa) [Tahko]