Non-essentialism
Encyclopedia
In philosophy
, non-essentialism is the belief that any given entity or subject cannot be propositionally defined in terms of specified values or characteristics, which that entity must have in order to be defined as that entity. For example, some humanists may have an idea of what the essence of being human is: there are specific traits which make something human. This is an essentialist theory.
A non-essentialist theory of humanity would believe that there are no essences or traits that make something human (for example, Sartre's theory of existence preceding essence
).
This view is somewhat problematic, however, as an entity not defined by any specific values or characteristics may lack any meaningful existence to an observer. Since entities in the real world are defined by their observers in some way, and in terms of characteristics, it would be impossible for a non-essential entity to be found in the real world, though this does not imply that they could not exist in the real world.
A non-essentialist would argue otherwise though, that it is impossible to find anything that has only its essential characteristics, that since every thing is a particular, that which is accidental is just as important to the particular as what is essential.
Non- essentialism can also be related to culture. That a person of a culture does not possess all of the traits that are labeled with it. An essentialist view on a culture can lead to racism.
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, non-essentialism is the belief that any given entity or subject cannot be propositionally defined in terms of specified values or characteristics, which that entity must have in order to be defined as that entity. For example, some humanists may have an idea of what the essence of being human is: there are specific traits which make something human. This is an essentialist theory.
A non-essentialist theory of humanity would believe that there are no essences or traits that make something human (for example, Sartre's theory of existence preceding essence
Existence precedes essence
The proposition that existence precedes essence is a central claim of existentialism, which reverses the traditional philosophical view that the essence or nature of a thing is more fundamental and immutable than its existence...
).
This view is somewhat problematic, however, as an entity not defined by any specific values or characteristics may lack any meaningful existence to an observer. Since entities in the real world are defined by their observers in some way, and in terms of characteristics, it would be impossible for a non-essential entity to be found in the real world, though this does not imply that they could not exist in the real world.
A non-essentialist would argue otherwise though, that it is impossible to find anything that has only its essential characteristics, that since every thing is a particular, that which is accidental is just as important to the particular as what is essential.
Non- essentialism can also be related to culture. That a person of a culture does not possess all of the traits that are labeled with it. An essentialist view on a culture can lead to racism.
See also
- EssentialismEssentialismIn philosophy, essentialism is the view that, for any specific kind of entity, there is a set of characteristics or properties all of which any entity of that kind must possess. Therefore all things can be precisely defined or described...
- Social constructionismSocial constructionismSocial constructionism and social constructivism are sociological theories of knowledge that consider how social phenomena or objects of consciousness develop in social contexts. A social construction is a concept or practice that is the construct of a particular group...
- RelativismRelativismRelativism is the concept that points of view have no absolute truth or validity, having only relative, subjective value according to differences in perception and consideration....
- ExistentialismExistentialismExistentialism is a term applied to a school of 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual...