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Single Idea 15143

[from 'A Realist Theory of Science' by Roy Bhaskar, in 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 5. Essence as Kind ]

Full Idea

Bhaskar identifies kind essences with underlying properties, often called 'categorical bases', of the causal powers of things.

Gist of Idea

Kind essences are the categorical bases of a thing's causal powers

Source

report of Roy Bhaskar (A Realist Theory of Science [1975], p.212) by Anjan Chakravarrty - Inessential Aristotle: Powers without Essences 1


A Reaction

The problem with this, it always seems to me, is the something inherently passive is said to give rise to something which is inherently active. Couldn't two individuals with a kind have slightly different categorical bases?