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Single Idea 11291

[from 'Metaphysics' by Aristotle, in 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 6. Essence as Unifier ]

Full Idea

The what-it-was-to-be-that-thing [to ti en einai, essence] is, for each thing, what it is taken to be [kath' hauto, in virtue of itself] per se.

Gist of Idea

A thing's essence is its intrinsic nature

Source

Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1029b13)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.178


A Reaction

[Translations is brackets from Vasilis Politis] Aristotle's other definition of essence is in terms of definition - Idea 10963 and Idea 11292.

Related Ideas

Idea 10963 A thing's essence is what is mentioned in its definition [Aristotle, by Lawson-Tancred]

Idea 11292 Things have an essence if their explanation is a definition [Aristotle]