Ideas from 'Essence and Potentiality' by Barbara Vetter [2010], by Theme Structure

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8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 4. Powers as Essence

17954

Essence is a thing's necessities, but what about its possibilities (which may not be realised)?

9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 4. Essence as Definition

17953

Real definition fits abstracta, but not individual concrete objects like Socrates

9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 7. Essence and Necessity / a. Essence as necessary properties

17952

Modal accounts make essence less mysterious, by basing them on the clearer necessity

10. Modality / A. Necessity / 5. Metaphysical Necessity

17959

Metaphysical necessity is even more deeply empirical than Kripke has argued

10. Modality / B. Possibility / 1. Possibility

17955

Possible worlds allow us to talk about degrees of possibility

17957

Maybe possibility is constituted by potentiality

10. Modality / D. Knowledge of Modality / 4. Conceivable as Possible / c. Possible but inconceivable

17958

The apparently metaphysically possible may only be epistemically possible

10. Modality / E. Possible worlds / 1. Possible Worlds / a. Possible worlds

17956

Closeness of worlds should be determined by the intrinsic nature of relevant objects