Single Idea 7161

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 15. Against Essentialism]

Full Idea

The essence of a thing is only an opinion about the 'thing'.

Gist of Idea

The essence of a thing is only an opinion about the 'thing'

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Writings from Late Notebooks [1887], 02[150])

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Writings from the Late Notebooks', ed/tr. Bittner,Rüdiger [CUP 2003], p.90


A Reaction

Nietzsche seems sympathetic to essentialism about natural laws (based on 'power'), but this is the classic rejection of Aristotelian essences, because they are unknowable or unprovable. Personally I think scientists are revealing essences.