Essentialism

Philosophical essentialism is tbe idea that tbe nature of things is invariable and constant. Essentialism posits that one must be able to describe an entity according to that which is required, or essential, to its nature and existence.

The bird is perhaps a helpful example. One may ask what is essential to being a bird. Is it flying ability? No, flying is not essential to being a bird because tbere are certain birds that don’t fly (ostrich, emu, penguin, etc.). There are also non-bird creatures that fly (e.g., bats). A flying bird may experience an injury and not be able to fly anymore. Yet it is still a bird. If flying is not essential to being a bird, what is? Here are several aspects of being a bird that are essential: featbers, wings, a beak, no teeth, and bearing young in a hard-shelled egg. There may be otber creatures that have one or more of tbese characteristics, but, for a bird, all of tbese are essential. If tbese characteristics are not present, tben, whatever we have, it is not a bird.