essentialism

plural essentialisms

1. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe view that objects have properties that are essential to them.

   Opponents of essentialism argue that "essences" are simply creations of language and culture.

   2004, Kelly James Clark, Richard Lints, James K. A. Smith, 101 Key Terms in Philosophy and Their Importance for Theology, →ISBN, page 21

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   More problematic is the essentialism that interests modal logicians, namely "the view that some attributes belong to an object by necessity whereas others belong to it contingently."

   1991, Garth L. Hallett, Essentialism: A Wittgensteinian Critique, →ISBN, page 2

2. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe view that all members of certain groups of people (such as those with the same race, gender, age, or sexual orientation) have common, essential traits inherent to the defining feature of the group; (also) behavior or statement(s) that reflect such a view.

   Previous literature tracks the trajectory of gender theories from biological essentialism to social construction.

   2020, Annie Jones, “Incels and the Manosphere: Tracking Men's Movements Online”, in University of Central Florida, page 5

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   A closer examination of the components of essentialism is required for a better understanding of the relation between essentialism and prejudice toward the two social categories of interest in this dissertation, African Americans and gay men.

   2007, Luisa Fernanda Ramirez, Dual Intergroup Meanings of Essentialism, →ISBN, page 8

   Like most of those who use the term, I continue to think essentialism a bad thing, but what exactly is wrong with it? Is it a matter of degree, a question of context or something that must be avoided at all costs?

   2013, Anne Phillips, Gender and Culture, →ISBN

   I think we need to sophisticate our understanding of cultural essentialisms, including gender ones, because it might help us deal better with issues of resistance.

   2013, Brackette Williams, Women Out of Place, →ISBN

   Colonial discourse relied heavily on such essentialisms wherein a race or ethnic group was first represented as possessing certain key features and then those very features were 'applied' to all members of the group.

   2015, Pramod K. Nayar, The Postcolonial Studies Dictionary, →ISBN, page 68

   The appearance underlines past incidents in which Pinker has encountered criticism for his association with advocates of so-called “human biodiversity”, which other academics have called a “rebranding” of racial genetic essentialism and scientific racism.

   2025 June 7, Jason Wilson, “Harvard author Steven Pinker appears on podcast linked to scientific racism”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

3. countableuncountableeducationThe doctrine that there are certain traditional concepts, values, and skills that are essential to society and should be taught to all students.

   If a curriculum is dedicated to getting back to the basics, then we can be sure that the guiding philosophy is that of essentialism.

   2004, Arthur K. Ellis, Exemplars of Curriculum Theory, →ISBN, page 109

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   Arguments of “back to basics” are usually associated with essentialism, and many contemporary educational theorists still suggest that the “nonessentials” should be taken out of the school curriculum.

   2011, Thomas E. Smith, Clifford E. Knapp, Sourcebook of Experiential Education, →ISBN

4. countableuncountableA lifestyle that seeks to minimize nonessentials in order to focus on what is important.

   As a brand, ETQ is built around a philosophy which is entirely dedicated to essentialism. Everything from the creation of the label to the design of each product is inspired by three principles: simplicity, timelessness and quality.

   2015 September 9, Chris Danforth, “A First Look at ETQ's New Flagship Space in Amsterdam”, in Highsnobiety

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   In this example is the basic value proposition of Essentialism: only once you give yourself permission to stop trying to do it all, to stop saying yes to everyone, can you make your highest contribution towards the things that really matter.

   2014, Greg McKeown, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, →ISBN, page 4

5. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe theory that human beings are by nature (i.e. essentially) good and that evil is the product of society.

   I should also mention that Rousseau's essentialism, unlike many of his contemporaries', is rather limited.

   2007, Mark Sydney Cladis, Public Vision, Private Lives, →ISBN, page 85

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   But they fed what they saw as raw, unguarded essentialism into work that was anything but naive. Rousseau was a naïf himself; his work as seductively strange to the other modernists as an ancient Iberian sculpture or a child’s drawing.

   2015 June 17, Rachel Spence, “Henri Rousseau: Archaic Candour, Palazzo Ducale, Venice”, in Financial Times