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9787 | Scientists must know the essential attributes of the things they study [Aristotle] |
Full Idea: It would be strange for a natural scientist to know what the sun and the moon are, but to be completely ignorant about their necessary attributes. | |
From: Aristotle (Physics [c.337 BCE], 193b27) | |
A reaction: This nicely captures the common sense idea of essentialism - that we must know the essential features of things, and ignore the incidental ones (like sunspots, or phases of the moon). |