Intrinseco

Intrinseco is an Italian adjective meaning intrinsic, relating to the essential or inherent nature of something. The term is used to describe properties or aspects that a thing possesses by its own nature, independently of external circumstances. It derives from Latin intrinsecus, meaning inward or internal.

In philosophy and science, intrinseco is used to discuss intrinsic properties—qualities that an object would have even if isolated from any environment or relation. This contrasts with properties that depend on context or interaction with other things. Examples commonly cited include a substance’s chemical composition or geometric shape as intrinsic attributes, versus location or state that can depend on external conditions.

In ethics and aesthetics, intrinsic value or intrinsic beauty are used to denote value or beauty attributed to the thing itself, not derived from usefulness or consequences. The intrinsic-extrinsic distinction appears across disciplines, helping to separate essential features from contingent, context-dependent factors.

Usage notes: Intrinseco is standard in Italian-language texts across philosophy, science, and humanities. In translation, intrinseco corresponds to the English adjective intrinsic, and related phrases include proprietà intrinseche or natura intrinseca when expressing intrinsic properties in Italian.