Aristotle’s Explanationist Epistemology of Essence
Essentialists claim that at least some individuals or kinds have essences. This raises an important but little-discussed question: how do we come to know what the essence of something is? This paper examines Aristotle’s answer to this question. One influential interpretation (viz., the Explanationis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ubiquity Press
2019-11-01
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| Series: | Metaphysics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.metaphysicsjournal.com/articles/24 |
| _version_ | 1818480208364175360 |
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| author | Christopher Hauser |
| author_facet | Christopher Hauser |
| author_sort | Christopher Hauser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Essentialists claim that at least some individuals or kinds have essences. This raises an important but little-discussed question: how do we come to know what the essence of something is? This paper examines Aristotle’s answer to this question. One influential interpretation (viz., the Explanationist Interpretation) is carefully expounded, criticized, and then refined. Particular attention is given to what Aristotle says about this issue in 'DA' I.1, 'APo' II.2, and 'APo' II.8. It is argued that the epistemological claim put forward in 'DA' I.1 differs from that put forward in 'APo' II.2 and II.8, contrary to what has been claimed by Explanationists, and that each of these distinct epistemological claims rests on a distinct non-epistemological thesis about essence. Consequently, an ‘Enriched Explanationist Interpretation’ is developed which takes into account both of the aforementioned elements in Aristotle’s epistemology of essence. The paper concludes by highlighting an insight the preceding exegetical discussion offers to contemporary essentialists seeking to explain how we come to know what something’s essence is. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T11:20:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0772a40f2e4d4816b759da7f726565f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2515-8279 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T11:20:22Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metaphysics |
| spelling | doaj.art-0772a40f2e4d4816b759da7f726565f92022-12-22T01:50:58ZengUbiquity PressMetaphysics2515-82792019-11-012110.5334/met.2415Aristotle’s Explanationist Epistemology of EssenceChristopher Hauser0Rutgers UniversityEssentialists claim that at least some individuals or kinds have essences. This raises an important but little-discussed question: how do we come to know what the essence of something is? This paper examines Aristotle’s answer to this question. One influential interpretation (viz., the Explanationist Interpretation) is carefully expounded, criticized, and then refined. Particular attention is given to what Aristotle says about this issue in 'DA' I.1, 'APo' II.2, and 'APo' II.8. It is argued that the epistemological claim put forward in 'DA' I.1 differs from that put forward in 'APo' II.2 and II.8, contrary to what has been claimed by Explanationists, and that each of these distinct epistemological claims rests on a distinct non-epistemological thesis about essence. Consequently, an ‘Enriched Explanationist Interpretation’ is developed which takes into account both of the aforementioned elements in Aristotle’s epistemology of essence. The paper concludes by highlighting an insight the preceding exegetical discussion offers to contemporary essentialists seeking to explain how we come to know what something’s essence is.https://www.metaphysicsjournal.com/articles/24essenceepistemology of essencenon-modal essentialismaristotleposterior analytics |
| spellingShingle | Christopher Hauser Aristotle’s Explanationist Epistemology of Essence Metaphysics essence epistemology of essence non-modal essentialism aristotle posterior analytics |
| title | Aristotle’s Explanationist Epistemology of Essence |
| title_full | Aristotle’s Explanationist Epistemology of Essence |
| title_fullStr | Aristotle’s Explanationist Epistemology of Essence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aristotle’s Explanationist Epistemology of Essence |
| title_short | Aristotle’s Explanationist Epistemology of Essence |
| title_sort | aristotle s explanationist epistemology of essence |
| topic | essence epistemology of essence non-modal essentialism aristotle posterior analytics |
| url | https://www.metaphysicsjournal.com/articles/24 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christopherhauser aristotlesexplanationistepistemologyofessence |