Nota: La traducción de esta entrada está actualmente en revisión de calidad, por lo que parte del contenido se muestra temporalmente solo en inglés.
Esta entrada aún no se ha traducido a tu idioma, así que se muestra el original a continuación.
haecceity
This term is primarily used in scholastic philosophy and metaphysics to describe the specific essence of an individual. It focuses on the irreducible quality that makes a thing exactly what it is, rather than the general properties it shares with others of its kind. For example, while "quiddity" refers to the "whatness" shared by all members of a species, "haecceity" is the unique "thisness" that distinguishes one specific person from another.
Due to its highly specialized nature, the word is restricted to academic, philosophical, or theological registers. It is almost never encountered in casual conversation or general literature. Because it describes an abstract, singular metaphysical property, it is treated as an uncountable noun and does not typically appear in plural form.
Meanings
Examples
The professor explained that haecceity refers to the specific thisness of an individual object.
What is the haecceity of this particular stone that distinguishes it from every other pebble on the beach?
What is the haecceity of this particular stone that distinguishes it from every other pebble on the beach?
Duns Scotus introduced the concept of haecceity to explain the principle of individuation.
I wonder if my own haecceity is something I can ever truly define or if it remains an elusive quality.
I wonder if my own haecceity is something I can ever truly define or if it remains an elusive quality.
The artist attempted to capture the haecceity of the landscape rather than just its general appearance.
The artist attempted to capture the haecceity of the landscape rather than just its general appearance.
Does a digital copy possess the same haecceity as the original physical manuscript?
We must distinguish between the quiddity of a human and the haecceity of a specific person.
The philosopher argued that haecceity is a non-predicable property of a thing.
The philosopher argued that haecceity is a non-predicable property of a thing.