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Single Idea 12080

[from 'Metaphysics' by Aristotle, in 2. Reason / D. Definition / 6. Definition by Essence ]

Full Idea

Aristotle never thought of an essence as comprising all the necessary properties of an object. In Met VII.4 he limits per se predication appropriate to essences to the definition, and in Topics he distinguishes definition from the 'proprium'.

Clarification

'Proprium' translates 'idion', and means non-essential properties

Gist of Idea

Essence is not all the necessary properties, since these extend beyond the definition

Source

report of Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE]) by Charlotte Witt - Substance and Essence in Aristotle 4.1

Book Reference

Witt,Charlotte: 'Substance and Essence in Aristotle' [Cornell 1994], p.106


A Reaction

[Topics 102a20-25] There seems to be consensus among scholars about this, and only a few misguided modern metaphysicians identify essences with the necessary properties (or maybe the non-trivial necessary properties).