Topics in Metaphysics

Essence 

This course examines the category of essence and of essentiality. What is it to be essentially F ? What are the main arguments for and against essentialism? It also examines the relations between essence, apriority, modality and generality and the nature of knowledge of essence. Particular attention will be paid to the views of Hume, Husserl, Wittgenstein, Kit Fine and Bob Hale.