Essence and arbitrariness

Abstract

In this work we trace a general history of arbitrary objects, making explicit the arguments that philosophers have presented in favor of, and against, arbitrary objects, and try to make a connection with essence first suggested by Locke: the essence of an F is an arbitrary F .Since the concept of arbitrary objects seems to be intertwined with others with which it has been conflated, such as universals and types, we also present a thorough introduction to the concepts of types, universals, arbitrary objects and essence, and try to argue why the conflation of some of them is inadequate.By the end, we present some views on essence of those authors which have also views in which arbitrary objects show up -Fine and Zalta -, and seek for the connection suggested by Locke.We conclude, for reasons of the very nature of arbitrary objects, Locke's suggestion was misguided.