Q&A: Essentialism
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Essentialism
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I have a few questions about essentialism.
1) What arguments support essentialism?
2) What answer do you have to Wittgenstein’s “family resemblance” regarding his critique of essentialism?
Answer
I can’t answer questions like that.
1. Define essentialism, preferably with an example. Present the two possibilities between which you are undecided.
2. Present Wittgenstein’s argument that you would like to discuss.