Essentialism (philosophy)

Essentialism in philosophy is the view that certain things have an inherent, fixed set of characteristics that define their true nature. For example, an essentialist might believe that all humans share an essential nature that makes them fundamentally human, regardless of individual differences. It suggests that these core qualities are necessary and unchanging, distinguishing a thing from others. This perspective views identity and reality as based on these unchangeable essences, emphasizing what fundamentally makes something what it is, rather than how it appears or functions in different contexts.