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Single Idea 17251
[filed under theme 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 13. Nominal Essence
]
Full Idea
That accident for which we give a certain name to any body, or the accident which denominates its subject, is commonly called the essence thereof.
Gist of Idea
The feature which picks out or names a thing is usually called its 'essence'
Source
Thomas Hobbes (De Corpore (Elements, First Section) [1655], 2.08.23)
Book Ref
Hobbes,Thomas: 'Metaphysical Writings', ed/tr. Calkins,Mary Whiton [Open Court 1905], p.67
A Reaction
This is clearly a prelude to Locke's more carefully formulated 'nominal essence'. Fairly obvious, for nominalist empiricists. A bit surprising to say this was 'common'.
The
40 ideas
from 'De Corpore (Elements, First Section)'
17233
|
Particulars contain universal things
[Hobbes]
|
17234
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Motion is losing one place and acquiring another
[Hobbes]
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17235
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A cause is the complete sum of the features which necessitate the effect
[Hobbes]
|
17236
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Words are not for communication, but as marks for remembering what we have learned
[Hobbes]
|
17237
|
Definitions of things that are caused must express their manner of generation
[Hobbes]
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17238
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Science aims to show causes and generation of things
[Hobbes]
|
17239
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Definition is resolution of names into successive genera, and finally the difference
[Hobbes]
|
17241
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A defined name should not appear in the definition
[Hobbes]
|
17240
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Definitions are the first step in philosophy
[Hobbes]
|
17242
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'Petitio principii' is reusing the idea to be defined, in disguised words
[Hobbes]
|
17243
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Past times can't exist anywhere, apart from in our memories
[Hobbes]
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17244
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To make a whole, parts needn't be put together, but can be united in the mind
[Hobbes]
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17245
|
A part of a part is a part of a whole
[Hobbes]
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14960
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Bodies are independent of thought, and coincide with part of space
[Hobbes]
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16670
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Accidents are just modes of thinking about bodies
[Hobbes]
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16621
|
Accidents are not parts of bodies (like blood in a cloth); they have accidents as things have a size
[Hobbes]
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17246
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Some accidental features are permanent, unless the object perishes
[Hobbes]
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17247
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The only generalities or universals are names or signs
[Hobbes]
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17248
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If a whole body is moved, its parts must move with it
[Hobbes]
|
17250
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If you separate the two places of one thing, you will also separate the thing
[Hobbes]
|
17249
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If you separated two things in the same place, you would also separate the places
[Hobbes]
|
16582
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We can imagine a point swelling and contracting - but not how this could be done
[Hobbes]
|
17251
|
The feature which picks out or names a thing is usually called its 'essence'
[Hobbes]
|
16600
|
Prime matter is body considered with mere size and extension, and potential
[Hobbes]
|
17252
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Acting on a body is either creating or destroying a property in it
[Hobbes]
|
17253
|
Change is nothing but movement
[Hobbes]
|
16734
|
The complete power of an event is just the aggregate of the qualities that produced it
[Hobbes]
|
17254
|
An effect needs a sufficient and necessary cause
[Hobbes]
|
17255
|
Two bodies differ when (at some time) you can say something of one you can't say of the other
[Hobbes]
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17257
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It is the same river if it has the same source, no matter what flows in it
[Hobbes]
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12853
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Some individuate the ship by unity of matter, and others by unity of form
[Hobbes]
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17256
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If a new ship were made of the discarded planks, would two ships be numerically the same?
[Hobbes]
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16794
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As an infant, Socrates was not the same body, but he was the same human being
[Hobbes]
|
16790
|
A body is always the same, whether the parts are together or dispersed
[Hobbes]
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17258
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If we just say one, one, one, one, we don't know where we have got to
[Hobbes]
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2948
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Sensation is merely internal motion of the sentient being
[Hobbes]
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17259
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'Force' is the quantity of movement imposed on something
[Hobbes]
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17260
|
Imagination is just weakened sensation
[Hobbes]
|
17261
|
Apart from pleasure and pain, the only emotions are appetite and aversion
[Hobbes]
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19373
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A 'conatus' is an initial motion, experienced by us as desire or aversion
[Hobbes, by Arthur,R]
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