Single Idea 17370

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 10. Essence as Species]

Full Idea

An intrinsic essence does not have to be 'neat and tidy'. ...Essentialism can accept the gradual change of one thing into another.

Gist of Idea

Things that gradually change, like species, can still have essences

Source

Michael Devitt (Resurrecting Biological Essentialism [2008], 11)

Book Reference

Devitt,Michael: 'Putting Metaphysics First' [OUP 2010], p.248


A Reaction

My thesis is that essentialism is a response to the needs of explanation, so as long as there is some core explanation to be found, even in something transitory, then the concept of an essence can apply to it.