Full Idea
The primary role of essences in Aristotle's theory of substance is causal, rather than classificatory.
Gist of Idea
Aristotelian essences are causal, not classificatory
Source
report of Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], ess) by Charlotte Witt - Substance and Essence in Aristotle 5.4
Book Reference
Witt,Charlotte: 'Substance and Essence in Aristotle' [Cornell 1994], p.179
A Reaction
This is the nicest summary of the view which I wish to champion. Classification results from patterns of causation, just as laws of nature result from regularities in the behaviour of causal powers.
Related Idea
Idea 11188 The Aristotelian view is that the essential properties are those that sort an object [Aristotle, by Marcus (Barcan)]