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Single Idea 12977

[filed under theme 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / k. Explanations by essence ]

Full Idea

We can define gold as the heaviest metal, or by assaying procedures, but only when men have penetrated more deeply into the nature of things will they be able to see why one belongs with the other.

Clarification

'Assaying procedures' check the authenticity of gold

Gist of Idea

We will only connect our various definitions of gold when we understand it more deeply

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (New Essays on Human Understanding [1704], 2.31)

Book Ref

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'New Essays on Human Understanding', ed/tr. Remnant/Bennett [CUP 1996], p.267

A Reaction

He mentions that geometry is different, because we do have perfect ideas of things. This is part of Leibniz's optimism about the future of science, in comparison with the surprising pessimism of the empiricists. See Idea 12976 and Idea 12975.

Related Ideas

Idea 12976 If our ideas of a thing are imperfect, the thing can have several unconnected definitions [Leibniz]

Idea 12975 We have a distinct idea of gold, to define it, but not a perfect idea, to understand it [Leibniz]

Idea 12983 A nominal definition is of the qualities, but the real definition is of the essential inner structure [Leibniz]

The 35 ideas with the same theme [explaining by showing hidden natures in things]:

16646 To understand a triangle summing to two right angles, we need to know the essence of a line [Aristotle]
15119 Aristotelian explanation by essence may need to draw on knowledge of other essences [Aristotle, by Koslicki]
11384 We know something when we fully know what it is, not just its quality, quantity or location [Aristotle]
16105 We know a thing when we grasp its essence [Aristotle]
16135 Real enquiries seek causes, and causes are essences [Aristotle]
11296 The explanation is what gives matter its state, which is the form, which is the substance [Aristotle]
11999 Essential properties explain in conjunction with properties shared by the same kind [Aristotle, by Kung]
22524 The nature of each thing is its mature state [Aristotle]
12000 Aristotle regularly says that essential properties explain other significant properties [Aristotle, by Kung]
11198 Definition of essence makes things understandable [Aquinas]
16784 Forms make things distinct and explain the properties, by pure form, or arrangement of parts [Arnauld,A/Nicole,P]
13073 To understand the properties we must know the essence, as with a circle [Spinoza]
17026 From the phenomena, I can't deduce the reason for the properties of gravity [Newton]
16037 Locke seems to use real essence for scientific explanation, and substratum for the being of a thing [Locke, by Jones,J-E]
16032 To explain qualities, Locke invokes primary and secondary qualities, not real essences [Locke, by Jones,J-E]
12519 Gold is supposed to have a real essence, from whence its detectable properties flow [Locke]
12977 We will only connect our various definitions of gold when we understand it more deeply [Leibniz]
12729 The cause of a change is not the real influence, but whatever gives a reason for the change [Leibniz]
13089 To fully conceive the subject is to explain the resulting predicates and events [Leibniz]
13092 The essence of substance is the law of its changes, as in the series of numbers [Leibniz]
13569 To give essentialist explanations there have to be natural kinds [Ellis]
15975 Can the qualities of a body be split into two groups, where the smaller explains the larger? [Alexander,P]
15219 Essence explains passive capacities as well as active powers [Harré/Madden]
11995 Some peripheral properties are explained by essential ones, but don't themselves explain properties [Kung]
11996 Some non-essential properties may explain more than essential-but-peripheral ones do [Kung]
11848 Asking 'what is it?' nicely points us to the persistence of a continuing entity [Wiggins]
12064 The category of substance is more important for epistemology than for ontology [Wiggins]
12049 Naming the secondary substance provides a mass of general information [Wiggins]
14322 If fragile just means 'breaks when dropped', it won't explain a breakage [Mumford]
17481 Nuclear charge (plus laws) explains electron structure and spectrum, but not vice versa [Hendry]
11905 Locke's kind essences are explanatory, without being necessary to the kind [Mackie,P]
15114 Discovering the Aristotelian essence of thunder will tell us why thunder occurs [Koslicki]
15710 Bohr explained the periodic table and chemical properties of elements, using the quantum atom [Kumar]
16783 Essences must explain, so we can infer them causally from the accidents [Pasnau]
16975 Essences are used to explain natural kinds, modality, and causal powers [Tahko]