accidentalism

noun — 4 senses

accidentalism

noun

Etymology From accidental + -ism.

1

Accidental character or effect.

2

The belief that outward appearance often contrasts with substance or essence (after Thomas Aquinas).

3

A system of medicine based on belief that symptoms of disease are caused by external factors.

4

The belief that events happen by random chance, without cause or purpose.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.