PER ACCIDENS

per accidens: translation

(Lat., by accident) In scholastic thought that which isper accidensbelongs to a substance more or less fortuitously, and is contrasted with that which isper se, or through itself, i.e. that springs from its inner or essential nature. Also in scholastic thought, that which is intended isper se, whereas that which comes about as a result of action but without being intended isper accidens. See also double effect, principle of.