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Full Idea
The modern concept of a kind essence is a set of intrinsic properties that are individually necessary and jointly sufficient for the membership of something in a class of things, or 'kind'.
Gist of Idea
A kind essence is the necessary and sufficient properties for membership of a class
Source
Anjan Chakravarrty (Inessential Aristotle: Powers without Essences [2012], 2)
A Reaction
I am always struck by the problem that the kind itself is constructed from the individuals, so circularity always seems to loom.
| 15144 | Explanation of causal phenomena concerns essential kinds - but also lack of them [Chakravartty] |
| 15146 | Some kinds, such as electrons, have essences, but 'cluster kinds' do not [Chakravartty] |
| 15145 | A kind essence is the necessary and sufficient properties for membership of a class [Chakravartty] |
| 15147 | Cluster kinds are explained simply by sharing some properties, not by an 'essence' [Chakravartty] |
| 15151 | Many causal laws do not refer to kinds, but only to properties [Chakravartty] |
| 15148 | Powers give explanations, without being necessary for some class membership [Chakravartty] |