Essentialism is the idea that everything has an essence. Existentialism says there is no essence.

There is either an essence or their isn’t, but we can’t know for sure. The different ways past thinkers have understood this conundrum is the part with examining.


Factoids tagged with "Essentialism and Existentialism"

There is Cake! Fact

It is said that, “there is no cake”, that, “the cake is a lie”, but this isn’t true. The cake you were promised may be a lie, but there is cake.

Blog Posts tagged with "Essentialism and Existentialism"

Good Faith, Bad Faith, and Duty

Good Faith is a true attempt, Bad Faith is an intentionally dishonest attempt, Duty is the moral and ethical obligation to make Good Faith attempts.

What is Fairness? / What is Justice?

Plato’s Republic, utilitarianism, the philosophies of morality, ethics, politics, virtue, and law are all centered around one question “what is justice?” (AKA “what is fairness?”).

Vices and Virtues Explained

We present a list of vices and virtues and look at vices and virtues as understood by philosophers like Aristotle and Aquinas.

Essentialism vs. Existentialism

Essentialism is the idea that everything has an essence (something that “makes it, it”). Existentialism says there is no essence (no intrinsic meaning that can be confirmed by the senses or reason).

The Point of Life is Happiness

We present a discussion on “the meaning of life as happiness,”the Greatest Happiness Theory,” “the Good Life,”the Pursuit of Happiness,” and Virtue Theory.

Arete Explained

Areté roughly means “moral virtue”. It refers to an innate “excellence” or “essence” in all things, and the striving toward that potential or purpose.