Accidentalism is the concept of unexpected events occurring without a direct cause. It has applications in art, theology, and ethics, and is seen as an alternative to the idea that everything happens for a reason. Accidentism is similar to Tychism, but tends to be more random and may not be part of the natural process of evolution. It seeks to bring understanding to events that appear to occur by pure chance.
Accidentalism is a concept that has applications across a wide range of artistic, theological, and ethical disciplines. In all approaches, accidentalism is seen as the possibility of the unexpected occurring and people being involved in events that seem to be out of the ordinary scope of understanding. In essence, accidentalism represents a thought process that indicates that not all events or ideas are the result of a direct cause. This means that events can happen randomly or simply by chance.
In some ways, Accidentism bears some resemblance to the philosophy of Tychism. In ticism, change – or ruxi – is understood as a natural part of creation and is one of the ways that natural laws adapt and evolve to encompass diversity within the known world. However, tychysm as expounded by Charles Sanders Peirce tends to indicate a purposeful function of chance within the universe. With accidentalism, the function of change tends to be more random and may not be part of the natural process of evolution.
Metaphysics tends to see accidentalism as an alternative to the idea that all things happen for a reason. From a religious or theological point of view, Accidentism refers to the concept that not all things happen within the perfect will of the Godhead. Often, the idea that Jesus had no intention of being crucified and that he was taken by surprise by this turn of events is presented as an example of Christian accidentalism. In ethics, accidentalism is used to explain the occurrence of mental changes that lead to actions that seem to have no relation to the previous psychological state.
In essence, Accidentism seeks to bring understanding to the reality that actions, events, and ideas occur without appearing to evolve as a result of some previously apparent or recognized factor. By moving away from causation and recognizing that events can and sometimes appear to take place by pure chance, the concept attempts to provide a name for these types of random events.
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