Exploring Essentialism and Natural Kinds in Science and Philosophy

This chapter delves into the concept of essentialism and natural kinds in various scientific disciplines like chemistry, biology, and gender studies. It discusses essential properties defining entities like atoms and water, contrasting them with accidental properties and exploring philosophical perspectives from Aristotle to modern thinkers like Cripkey. The episode also examines the metaphysical outlook on science, contrasting essentialism with pacifism and highlighting the inherent dispositions of objects in the context of scientific paradigms.