This book investigates the core question of how Aristotle defines meaning and essence within his metaphysical and linguistic frameworks. Prof. David Charles, a distinguished scholar of ancient philosophy, utilizes a rigorous analytical approach to examine Aristotle's texts, specifically focusing on the relationship between definitions, properties, and the nature of substances. The author argues that Aristotle's account of essence is not merely a linguistic convention but a fundamental ontological claim about the structure of reality.

Experts in the field of ancient philosophy recognize this work as a dense and highly technical contribution to the study of Aristotelian metaphysics. Readers frequently note the academic rigor of the prose, which is intended for advanced students and scholars of classical philosophy.