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Single Idea 13129

[from 'Ontological Categories' by Jan Westerhoff, in 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 5. Essence as Kind ]

Full Idea

Essential kinds can be very specific, and arguably too specific for the purposes of ontological categories.

Gist of Idea

Essential kinds may be too specific to provide ontological categories

Source

Jan Westerhoff (Ontological Categories [2005], §27)

Book Reference

Westerhoff,Jan: 'Ontological Categories' [OUP 2005], p.64


A Reaction

Interesting. There doesn't seem to be any precise guideline as to how specific an essential kind might be. In scientific essentialism, each of the isotopes of tin has a distinct essence, but why should they not be categories