Single Idea 11238

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 6. Essence as Unifier]

Full Idea

Plato and Aristotle have a shared general conception of essence: the essence of a thing is what that thing is simply in virtue of itself and in virtue of being the very thing it is. It answers the question 'What is this very thing?'

Gist of Idea

Plato and Aristotle take essence to make a thing what it is

Source

report of Plato (works [c.375 BCE]) by Vassilis Politis - Aristotle and the Metaphysics 1.4

Book Reference

Politis,Vasilis: 'Aristotle and the Metaphysics' [Routledge 2004], p.16