Accident

Hegel (Logic of Essence, moment of substance)

The accident (plural: accidents) is the changing, inessential in contrast to persisting substance. Traditionally: substance has accidents (properties). Hegel's point: substance IS nothing other than the totality of its accidents. There is no substrate behind the properties. The accidents are not external to the substance, but its self-differentiation. The substance brings forth its accidents out of itself (is active, not passive).

Origin

Lat. *accidens* (that which is added, non-essential). Aristotle: *symbebÄ“kos* — what belongs to a substance but does not belong to its essence. Scholasticism: accidents cannot exist without substance. Spinoza: modes of substance. Hegel: substance as living totality of accidents.

In Hegel

Enc. §150-151; SL Vol. 2, Actuality

Cross-references

Substance · Essence · Appearance · Actuality · Logic of Essence