Language, Essentialism and Necessity
Limbaj, esenţialism şi necesitate

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this paper is to show that the essentialist conception of natural necessity is doubtful, at least at an epistemological level, but this is mostly due to the understanding of natural necessity as a form of real necessity, a notion that remains difficult to account for even in a metaphysical framework that is different from the one assumed by Humeans. This research shows that a return to the Quinean view that the distinction between the a priori and the a posteriori should be one that admits degrees, as well as a reassessment of the objectivist doctrine of natural kinds (together with other general and traditional arguments and theses), are warranted. Combining empiricism and a strong necessitation position concerning natural laws is still a hard to achieve philosophical desideratum.

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