Essentialism

Aristotle’s essentialism is the view that every object has a set of necessary and defining characteristics, or an “essence,” that makes it what it is. This essence is what remains constant through change and is composed of both the object’s form (its defining nature) and matter (its physical substance). For example, the essence of a human is to be a “rational animal,” with rationality being the key defining characteristic that separates it from other beings.

Key principles of Aristotle’s essentialism

Form and matter: Aristotle viewed substances as a combination of form and matter. Matter is the physical stuff an object is made of, while form is the essence that gives it a specific identity. For instance, matter is the wood and metal of a chair, while its form is what makes it a “chair” and not a “table”.
Necessary vs. accidental properties: Some properties are essential to an object, meaning it cannot exist without them, while others are accidental and can change or be removed without altering the object’s fundamental nature.
- Essential: For a human, being “rational” is an essential property. A person can lose a limb or change their hair color, but they remain human because the essence of rationality endures.
- Accidental: A person’s height, weight, or hair color are considered accidental properties.
Four causes: To understand the essence of something, Aristotle used the theory of four causes: the material, formal, efficient, and final causes.
- Material cause: The matter from which it is made (e.g., the bronze of a statue).
- Formal cause: The form or essence of the thing (e.g., the shape of the statue).
- Efficient cause: The agent that created it (e.g., the sculptor).
- Final cause: The purpose or end goal of the thing (e.g., its intended function).
Teleology: A central tenet is that everything has a purpose or “telos” (end goal). An object is considered its “best” self when it is fulfilling its function. For example, the purpose of a human is to live a life of reason, and a good human is one who does so successfully.

Impact of essentialism

Biological classification: For centuries, essentialism influenced the understanding of species, with the belief that each species had a perfect, unchanging archetype. All variations were seen as imperfect reflections of this ideal form.
Foundation for philosophy: Essentialism was foundational to Aristotle’s work and provided a framework for understanding the world through definitions, essences, and purposes.
Modern debate: While Aristotelian essentialism was historically dominant, it has been challenged by modern science, particularly evolutionary biology, though some scholars argue that it can be compatible with evolution if understood correctly.

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] https://philosophy.institute/metaphysics/aristotle-substance-essence-actuality-being/

[2] https://testbook.com/ias-preparation/theory-of-essences

[3] https://devrev.ai/blog/what-is-essentialism

[4] https://fiveable.me/key-terms/history-science/essence

[5] youtube/v=EHVlDAvmywI

[6] https://philosophy.institute/western-philosophy/aristotle-metaphysics-essence-being/

[7] https://www.reddit.com/r/askphilosophy/comments/1zdnry/on_aristotelean_essentialism_can_you_recommend/

[8] https://web.stanford.edu/~mvr2j/sfsu12/reading/phil770_matthews.pdf

[9] https://www.kaktos.gr/en/aristotle-the-cornerstone-of-western-civilization/

[10] https://metaphysicsjournal.com/articles/10.5334/met.2

[11] https://iep.utm.edu/2019/