Essentialism
The view that every entity has a set of attributes that are necessary to its identity and function.
Origin
The idea traces to Plato's theory of eternal Forms and was refined by Aristotle, who argued in his Metaphysics (4th century BCE) that every entity has an essence — attributes without which it would not be that kind of thing. Medieval Scholastic philosophers fused Platonic and Aristotelian ideas, recasting essences as archetypes in the mind of God. The modern English term "essentialism" emerged in the 20th century, gaining wide use through debates in philosophy, biology, and social theory.
Everyday Use
When someone says "that's just not who I am" or insists a certain trait is "in their DNA," they're thinking like an essentialist — assuming there's a fixed core that makes a thing what it is. We do it with people, cultures, and even brands, often without realizing how much it shapes our judgments.