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Single Idea 12089

[filed under theme 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 8. Essence as Explanatory ]

Full Idea

The central function of essence is to explain the actual existence of a unified substance.

Gist of Idea

Essences mainly explain the existence of unified substance

Source

Charlotte Witt (Substance and Essence in Aristotle [1989], 5 n1)

Book Ref

Witt,Charlotte: 'Substance and Essence in Aristotle' [Cornell 1994], p.144

A Reaction

She is offering an interpretation of Aristotle. Since existence is an active and not a passive matter, the identity of the entity will include its dispositions etc., I presume.

The 6 ideas from Charlotte Witt

12066 Aristotelian and Kripkean essentialism are very different theories [Witt]
12067 An Aristotelian essence is a nonlinguistic correlate of the definition [Witt]
12082 If unity is a matter of degree, then essence may also be a matter of degree [Witt]
12085 Reality is directional [Witt]
12089 Essences mainly explain the existence of unified substance [Witt]
12102 Essential properties of origin are too radically individual for an Aristotelian essence [Witt]