ABSTRACT
This chapter presents prominent origin essentialist claims, situating them in philosophical context. These claims are distinguished from some with which they may be confused. Expansion (or addition) arguments for origin essentialism—arguments in roughly the style of the famous footnote 56 of Kripke's Naming and Necessity—as well as criticisms of such arguments are presented. The paradox of flexible origin essentialism is discussed, and the philosophical significance of the mere consistency of flexible origin essentialism is highlighted.
