It is usually thought to derive from classical Greek philosophy and in particular from Aristotle's notion of “what it is to be” something. In biology, it has been claimed that pre-evolutionary views of living kinds, or as they are sometimes called, “natural kinds”, are essentialist.

Who created essentialism?

During his lifetime, William C. Bagley was America's most influential philosopher of teacher education. Although he has become known as the father of “Essentialism,” his central focus throughout his career was the education of teachers and, more specifically, curriculum for the education of teachers.

What is the concept of essentialism?

Essentialism is the view that certain categories (e.g., women, racial groups, dinosaurs, original Picasso artwork) have an underlying reality or true nature that one cannot observe directly.