Full Idea
When I enquire into the real essence, from which all the properties flow, I cannot discover it: the farthest I can go, is only to presume that it being nothing but body, its essence must be the figure, size and connection of its solid parts.
Gist of Idea
The best I can make of real essence is figure, size and connection of solid parts
Source
John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 2.31.06)
Book Reference
Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.379
A Reaction
I say we have now discovered the essence of gold (for example), and that 'figure, size and connection' of parts is quite a good account of what we have discovered, namely the 79 protons, the neutrons, and the electron shell, with forces.
Related Idea
Idea 13771 Real essence is the constitution of the unknown parts of a body which produce its qualities [Locke]