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Single Idea 16551

[filed under theme 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 4. Essence as Definition ]

Full Idea

All that grasping an essence amounts to is understanding a real definition, that is, understanding a special kind of proposition.

Gist of Idea

Grasping an essence is just grasping a real definition

Source

E.J. Lowe (What is the Source of Knowledge of Modal Truths? [2013], 7)

Book Ref

-: 'Mind' [-], p.28

A Reaction

He refuses to 'reify' an essence, and says it is not an entity, so he seems to think that the definition is the essence, but Aristotle and I take the essence to be what is picked out by the correct definition - not the definition itself.

Related Idea

Idea 16548 An essence is what an entity is, revealed by a real definition; this is not an entity in its own right [Lowe]

The 19 ideas from 'What is the Source of Knowledge of Modal Truths?'

16533 Logical necessities, based on laws of logic, are a proper sub-class of metaphysical necessities [Lowe]
16531 'Metaphysical' necessity is absolute and objective - the strongest kind of necessity [Lowe]
16532 'Epistemic' necessity is better called 'certainty' [Lowe]
16534 'Intuitions' are just unreliable 'hunches'; over centuries intuitions change enormously [Lowe]
16535 A concept is a way of thinking of things or kinds, whether or not they exist [Lowe]
16542 Explanation can't give an account of essence, because it is too multi-faceted [Lowe]
16547 H2O isn't necessary, because different laws of nature might affect how O and H combine [Lowe]
16543 If an essence implies p, then p is an essential truth, and hence metaphysically necessary [Lowe]
16544 Metaphysical necessity is either an essential truth, or rests on essential truths [Lowe]
16538 We could give up possible worlds if we based necessity on essences [Lowe]
16539 A definition of a circle will show what it is, and show its generating principle [Lowe]
16540 Defining an ellipse by conic sections reveals necessities, but not the essence of an ellipse [Lowe]
16548 An essence is what an entity is, revealed by a real definition; this is not an entity in its own right [Lowe]
16549 Simple things like 'red' can be given real ostensive definitions [Lowe]
16545 The essence of lumps and statues shows that two objects coincide but are numerically distinct [Lowe]
16546 The essence of a bronze statue shows that it could be made of different bronze [Lowe]
16551 Grasping an essence is just grasping a real definition [Lowe]
16552 If we must know some entity to know an essence, we lack a faculty to do that [Lowe]
16550 Direct reference doesn't seem to require that thinkers know what it is they are thinking about [Lowe]