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Single Idea 16797

[filed under theme 2. Reason / D. Definition / 6. Definition by Essence ]

Full Idea

Locke may have gone a long way towards describing the real essence of a person.

Gist of Idea

Maybe Locke described the real essence of a person

Source

report of John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 2.27.09) by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 30.5

Book Ref

Pasnau,Robert: 'Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671' [OUP 2011], p.725

A Reaction

Locke resisted the idea that we could know real essences, but this idea makes the point that if you give a good definition of something you can hardly fail to be invoking its essence.

The 14 ideas with the same theme [essence as what figures in a successful definition]:

11389 Socrates sought essences, which are the basis of formal logic [Socrates, by Aristotle]
12080 Essence is not all the necessary properties, since these extend beyond the definition [Aristotle, by Witt]
11153 A definition is an account of a what-it-was-to-be-that-thing [Aristotle]
12382 What it is and why it is are the same; screening defines and explains an eclipse [Aristotle]
12285 The definition is peculiar to one thing, not common to many [Aristotle]
16797 Maybe Locke described the real essence of a person [Locke, by Pasnau]
11216 If definitions aim at different ideals, then defining essence is not a unitary activity [Gupta]
11171 Defining a term and giving the essence of an object don't just resemble - they are the same [Fine,K]
11178 The essence or definition of an essence involves either a class of properties or a class of propositions [Fine,K]
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]
19291 A canonical defintion specifies the type of thing, and what distinguish this specimen [Hale]
15116 Essences cause necessary features, and definitions describe those necessary features [Koslicki]