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Single Idea 12015

[from 'The Metaphysics of Modality' by Graeme Forbes, in 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 3. Individual Essences ]

Full Idea

A non-trivial individual essence is properties other than a) those following from a de dicto truth, b) properties of existence and self-identity (or their cognates), c) properties derived from necessities in some other category.

Gist of Idea

Non-trivial individual essence is properties other than de dicto, or universal, or relational

Source

Graeme Forbes (The Metaphysics of Modality [1985], 5.1)

Book Reference

Forbes,Graeme: 'The Metaphysics of Modality' [OUP 1985], p.99


A Reaction

[I have compressed Forbes] Rather than adding all these qualificational clauses to our concept, we could just tighten up on the notion of a property, saying it is something which is causally efficacious, and hence explanatory.