Single Idea 13797

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

Full Idea

The loss of any essential property must amount to the end of an existence.

Gist of Idea

The loss of an essential property means the end of an existence

Source

Crawford L. Elder (Real Natures and Familiar Objects [2004], 3)

Book Reference

Elder,Crawford L.: 'Real Natures and Familiar Objects' [MIT 2004], p.43


A Reaction

This is orthodoxy for essentialists, and I presume that Aristotle would agree, but I have a problem with the essence of a great athlete, who then grows old. Must we say that they lose their identity-as-an-athlete?

Related Ideas

Idea 11993 Jones may cease to exist without some simple property, but that doesn't make it essential [Kung]

Idea 13804 A property is essential iff the object would not exist if it lacked that property [Forbes,G]