Single Idea 7375

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / B. Natural Kinds / 1. Natural Kinds]

Full Idea

The concept of natural kinds was reintroduced by Quine, who may now regret the way it has become a stand-in for the dubious but covertly popular concept of essences.

Gist of Idea

Quine probably regrets natural kinds now being treated as essences

Source

report of Willard Quine (Natural Kinds [1969]) by Daniel C. Dennett - Consciousness Explained 12.2 n2

Book Reference

Dennett,Daniel C.: 'Consciousness Explained' [Penguin 1993], p.381


A Reaction

He is right that Quine would regret it, and he is right that we can't assume that there are necessary essences just because there seem to be stable natural kinds, but personally I am an essentialist, so I'm not that bothered.