Accidentalist

An accidentalist is a person who believes that events occur randomly and without any predetermined purpose or design, often emphasizing the role of chance and contingency. This philosophical stance rejects the notion of inherent order, predetermination, or a guiding force influencing the course of events. Accidentalists view the universe as fundamentally chaotic and unpredictable, where outcomes arise from a confluence of unrelated circumstances, rather than through planned intention or a causal chain aiming at specific goals. They acknowledge the significance of unexpected occurrences and the difficulty in attributing meaning or purpose to individual happenings within a larger scheme. They would believe that actions taken by humans are random and not the result of their own desires, needs, or a series of events or planning.

Accidentalist meaning with examples

• The economist, a staunch accidentalist, argued that the market's fluctuations were inherently unpredictable, dismissing attempts to forecast trends as futile. She pointed to the chaotic nature of consumer behavior and unforeseen geopolitical events as evidence of randomness. She considered the rise and fall of companies as merely luck, not the result of clever business strategy. All human interaction, including economic systems, are best understood without expecting pre-ordained results.
• After his success, the filmmaker considered himself an accidentalist, admitting his breakthrough was a consequence of unforeseen opportunities. He emphasized the importance of embracing serendipity and being open to unexpected creative avenues. He believes that the outcome of his film was random, though all of the events appeared to fall in line to create it. He would consider this as a random outcome, not a result of the filmmaker's work.
• The historian adopted an accidentalist perspective when studying societal change, arguing that pivotal moments in history often stemmed from chance encounters or minor incidents. He emphasized the unpredictable nature of human affairs and the limitations of attributing events to grand narratives or long-term strategies. The historian considers that actions of individuals are random and without a specific outcome or design.
• A proponent of accidentalism, the quantum physicist considered the unpredictability of subatomic particles as a fundamental characteristic of reality. He used the concept of accidentalism to argue against deterministic models. He saw that it would be impossible to accurately measure subatomic particles. Therefore, our knowledge and understanding of reality will be subject to randomness, and there is no such thing as an ultimate plan or purpose.