Essentialism

Essentialism In other words the nature of the thing exists before the thing itself exists. Artifacts illustrate. Before there was this coffee cup (existence), the idea for this coffee cup (essence) existed in the mind of the cup’s maker. We could repeat this for any and every artifact. Essentialists apply this line of reasoning to nature. Before there was the universe, the idea for the universe existed in the mind of its creator. What kind of mind would it take to create the universe? –A divine mind. This is why essentialists believe in the existence of God—the idea for the nature of the thing has to exist before it exists as the thing.
 * Essentialism ** is the primary cosmology and metaphysical view that essence precedes existence.

Catholic essentialists believe in a **dynamically ordered** universe where good has been woven into the fabric of the creation (0299). We believe that human beings have an immortal human rational soul; we are made in the image and likeness of God (0362-0368). The faculties of the soul give us the capacity to discern the objective **truth** of the matter and act upon it in freedom. Because we can know **good** acts from **evil** acts and act carry it out in freedom, we can perform a **moral act**.

The people of the ancient and medieval times were largely Essentialists. Disagreements centered on the details about God, but the existence of God was a widely held belief. The notion that the universe was a creation—the work of a Creator can be found in virtually every culture. Intolerance ruled the day as people assumed that their view was true and all other views were false. Happiness is found by engaging in spiritual paths aimed at attaining unending happiness in the afterlife.