Which statement best exemplifies the concept of essentialism?
A) "The purpose of popcorn is to make kids happy when they are at the movies."
B) "If your parent says 'no,' then you should not do it."
C) "A monkey raised by people will become a human."
D) "Fish have a special 'fishiness' that allows them to breathe underwater."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Essentialism is the belief that things have a set of characteristics that make them what they are, and that the task of science and philosophy is to discover these characteristics. Choice D, which suggests that fish have an inherent "fishiness" that enables them to breathe underwater, aligns with essentialist thinking by attributing a fundamental, defining quality to fish that explains their ability to live in their specific environment.

Which Statement Best Exemplifies the Concept of Essentialism