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Single Idea 12102

[from 'Substance and Essence in Aristotle' by Charlotte Witt, in 9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 12. Origin as Essential ]

Full Idea

The radical individuality of essential properties of origin makes them unsuitable for inclusion in an Aristotelian essence.

Gist of Idea

Essential properties of origin are too radically individual for an Aristotelian essence

Source

Charlotte Witt (Substance and Essence in Aristotle [1989], 6.2)

Book Reference

Witt,Charlotte: 'Substance and Essence in Aristotle' [Cornell 1994], p.191


A Reaction

Nevertheless, Aristotle believes in individual essences, though these seem to be fixed by definitions, which are composed of combinations of universals. The uniqueness is of the whole definition, not of its parts.