more from Plato

Single Idea 13774

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 3. Individual Essences]

Full Idea

If Euthydemus is wrong that everything always has every attribute simultaneously, or that being or essence is private for each person, then it is clear that things have some fixed being or essence of their own.

Gist of Idea

Things don't have every attribute, and essence isn't private, so each thing has an essence

Source

Plato (Cratylus [c.377 BCE], 386d)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Complete Works', ed/tr. Cooper,John M. [Hackett 1997], p.104


A Reaction

I'm not sure what 'being or essence' translates. If it translates 'ousia' then I wouldn't make too much of this remark from an essentialist point of view.