accidentalments

Accidentalments refers to a fictional concept, often found in speculative fiction or philosophical thought experiments, that describes events or phenomena that arise as unintended consequences of deliberate actions, but are not necessarily negative. Unlike the more common term "unintended consequences," which can encompass both positive and negative outcomes, accidentalments specifically highlights the emergence of something novel or unexpected that wasn't a direct goal of the original action.

The concept explores the intricate web of cause and effect, suggesting that even well-intentioned or carefully planned endeavors can spawn entirely new realities or discoveries that were not foreseen. These emergent properties or outcomes are not always beneficial, but the term "accidentalments" tends to focus on the surprising and often neutral or even advantageous nature of these unplanned developments.

For example, a scientist attempting to create a specific compound might accidentally discover a new material with entirely different and useful properties. The discovery of penicillin is often cited as an accidentalment; Alexander Fleming was not intentionally trying to find an antibiotic, but his accidental contamination of a petri dish led to a groundbreaking medical discovery. Similarly, in fictional narratives, accidentalments might describe the spontaneous generation of a new form of consciousness from complex computer systems or the unexpected evolution of a species due to environmental changes triggered by human activity. The key is the unplanned, yet significant, emergence of something new.