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Single Idea 14654

[filed under theme 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 9. Essence and Properties ]

Full Idea

Let us call properties that enjoy the distinction of being instantiated by every object in every possible world 'trivially essential properties'.

Gist of Idea

Properties are 'trivially essential' if they are instantiated by every object in every possible world

Source

Alvin Plantinga (World and Essence [1970], I)

Book Ref

Plantinga,Alvin: 'Essays in the Metaphysics of Modality' [OUP 2003], p.49


A Reaction

These would appear to be trivially 'necessary' rather than 'essential'. This continual need for the qualifier 'trivial' shows that they are not talking about proper essences.


The 11 ideas from 'World and Essence'

Plantinga proposes necessary existent essences as surrogates for the nonexistent things [Plantinga, by Stalnaker]
X is essentially P if it is P in every world, or in every X-world, or in the actual world (and not ¬P elsewhere) [Plantinga]
'De re' modality is as clear as 'de dicto' modality, because they are logically equivalent [Plantinga]
The 'identity criteria' of a name are a group of essential and established facts [Plantinga]
Properties are 'trivially essential' if they are instantiated by every object in every possible world [Plantinga]
'Being Socrates' and 'being identical with Socrates' characterise Socrates, so they are among his properties [Plantinga]
Does Socrates have essential properties, plus a unique essence (or 'haecceity') which entails them? [Plantinga]
Does 'being identical with Socrates' name a property? I can think of no objections to it [Plantinga]
We can imagine being beetles or alligators, so it is possible we might have such bodies [Plantinga]
If a property is ever essential, can it only ever be an essential property? [Plantinga]
Essences are instantiated, and are what entails a thing's properties and lack of properties [Plantinga]