back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 12257

[from 'Real Essentialism' by David S. Oderberg, in 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 15. Against Essentialism ]

Full Idea

Why not do away with talk of essences and replace it with talk of powers pure and simple, or reduce essences to collections of powers? But then what unites the powers, and could a power be lost, and is there entailment between the powers?

Gist of Idea

Could we replace essence with collections of powers?

Source

David S. Oderberg (Real Essentialism [2007], 6.3)

Book Reference

Oderberg,David S.: 'Real Essentialism' [Routledge 2009], p.142


A Reaction

[He cites Bennett and Hacker 2003 for this view] The point would seem to be that in addition to the powers, there are also identity and unity and kind-membership to be explained. Oderberg says the powers flow from the essence.