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Single Idea 5452

[from 'Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy' by Thomas Mautner, in 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / e. Human nature ]

Full Idea

In philosophical anthropology, the view that there is a human nature or essence is called 'essentialism'. It became current in 1946 as a contrast to Sartre's existentialist view.

Gist of Idea

'Essentialism' is opposed to existentialism, and claims there is a human nature

Source

Thomas Mautner (Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy [1996], p.179)

Book Reference

Mautner,Thomas: 'Dictionary of Philosophy' [Penguin 1997], p.179


A Reaction

Being a fan of Aristotle, I incline towards the older view, but you cannot get away from the fact that the human brain has similarities to a Universal Turing Machine, and diverse cultures produce very different individuals.