Essentialism

Essentialism is the belief and practice centered on a philosophical claim that for any specific kind of entity it is at least theoretically possible to specify a finite list of characteristics, all of which any entity must have to belong to the group defined. A member of a specific kind of entity may possess other characteristics that are neither needed to establish its membership nor preclude its membership.

See also

• structuralism
• Traditionalist School

Contrast with: constructionism, poststructuralism, existentialism

Related Topics:
Constructionism - Poststructuralism - Existentialism

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