Full Idea
Given the accepted linkage between a thing's essence and its identity, the rejection of essences makes a complete mess out of questions of individuation.
Gist of Idea
If you reject essences, questions of individuation become extremely difficult
Source
Robert Pasnau (Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 [2011], 27.6)
Book Reference
Pasnau,Robert: 'Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671' [OUP 2011], p.654
A Reaction
I note that he talks of a thing having 'identity', contra the view of identity as a two-place relation. I agree with this, but there is a chicken-egg problem. Do I perceive an identity and surmise an essence, or surmise an essence and deduce identity?