Abstract
According to Aristotle, the notion of essence has two interrelated roles: one definitional, the other explanatory. On the one hand, it specifies what it is for something to belong to a particular natural kind of thing,1 the specification being, of necessity, both necessary and sufficient for membership of the kind;2 while, on the other, it explains3 not just why members of such kinds have certain further properties, but also ultimately why they must have such properties.4
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References
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© 2013 Stephen Williams and David Charles
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Williams, S., Charles, D. (2013). Essence, Modality, and the Master Craftsman. In: Feser, E. (eds) Aristotle on Method and Metaphysics. Philosophers in Depth. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137367907_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137367907_7
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