more from Brian Ellis

Single Idea 5462

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

Full Idea

Most of the essential properties of things are quantitatively determinate properties.

Clarification

'Quantitatively determinate' means you can put numbers to them

Gist of Idea

Essential properties are usually quantitatively determinate

Source

Brian Ellis (The Philosophy of Nature: new essentialism [2002], Ch.3)

Book Reference

Ellis,Brian: 'The Philosophy of Nature: new essentialism' [Acumen 2002], p.56


A Reaction

This makes the essential nature of the world very much the province of science, which deals in quantities and equations. Essentialists must deal with mental events, as well as basic physics.