more from Willard Quine

Single Idea 10923

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

Full Idea

What Aristotelian essentialism says is that you can have open sentences Fx and Gx, such that ∃x(nec Fx.Gx.¬nec Gx). For example, ∃x(nec(x>5). there are just x planets. ¬nec(there are just x planets)).

Gist of Idea

Aristotelian essentialism says a thing has some necessary and some non-necessary properties

Source

Willard Quine (Three Grades of Modal Involvement [1953], p.176)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'Ways of Paradox and other essays' [Harvard 1976], p.176


A Reaction

This is a denial of 'maximal essentialism', that all of a things properties might be essential. Quine is thus denying necessity, except under a description. He may be equivocating over the reference of 'there are just 9 planets'.