more from Brian Ellis

Single Idea 5446

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / B. Natural Kinds / 6. Necessity of Kinds]

Full Idea

Modern essentialists would insist that any two members of the same natural kind must be identical in all essential respects.

Gist of Idea

For essentialists two members of a natural kind must be identical

Source

Brian Ellis (The Philosophy of Nature: new essentialism [2002], Ch.1)

Book Reference

Ellis,Brian: 'The Philosophy of Nature: new essentialism' [Acumen 2002], p.14


A Reaction

For this reason, animals no longer qualify as natural kinds, but electrons, gold atoms, and water molecules do. My sticking point is when anyone asserts that an electron necessarily has (say) its mass. Why no close counterpart of electrons?