Abstract

Aristotle's account of essences is distinct from that offered by Platonists and by scientific realists. Further, while Aristotle's essences are part of the fabric of reality, they can be grasped only by those with certain definitional and explanatory practices. Thus, his account differs from that of the Platonist. Standard criticisms of Aristotle's essentialism are, I argue, misdirected against a Platonist Aristotle of legend and do not successfully engage with Aristotle's own account.