Inintendible

Inintendible is a term used to describe something that cannot be intended or conceived of. It refers to actions, thoughts, or states that are beyond the scope of intentionality. For instance, an involuntary reflex, such as blinking, is considered inintendible because it happens without conscious thought or deliberate decision. Similarly, certain subconscious processes or emergent phenomena might be described as inintendible.

The concept of inintendibility often arises in discussions related to philosophy of mind, ethics, and legal responsibility. In ethics, for example, a person is generally not held morally accountable for actions they could not have intended or foreseen. This distinction is crucial when evaluating blame or praise. In law, the concept plays a role in determining intent, a key element in many criminal offenses. If an outcome is purely accidental and could not have been reasonably anticipated or intended, it might fall outside the realm of culpable action.

While the term itself is not widely used in everyday language, the underlying idea is fundamental to understanding the limits of human agency and responsibility. It highlights the difference between what we choose to do and what happens to us or through us without our direct volition. The boundary between what is intendible and what is inintendible can sometimes be a subject of debate, particularly when considering complex psychological states or borderline cases of accident and negligence.