Full Idea
We should not regard nonmodal essence as being metaphysically basic: fundamental theories need essence no more than they need modality.
Gist of Idea
Essence (even if nonmodal) is not fundamental in metaphysics
Source
Theodore Sider (Writing the Book of the World [2011], 12.1)
Book Reference
Sider,Theodore: 'Writing the Book of the World' [OUP 2011], p.267
A Reaction
He is discussing Kit Fine, and notes that Fine offers a nonmodal view of essence, but still doesn't make it fundamental. I am a fan of essences, but making them fundamental in metaphysics seems unlikely.
Related Idea
Idea 15025 The world does not contain necessity and possibility - merely how things are [Sider]