nonlifecontingent

Nonlifecontingent is a sparsely used, neologistic term in philosophy and related fields. It is typically invoked to describe entities, facts, or states whose existence is contingent in the philosophical sense but not dependent on living beings. Because it is not part of standard vocabulary, its precise definition can vary by author, and some writers treat it as a synonym for a “non-biological contingent” or as a specific subclass of contingent realities that would obtain even in worlds without life.

A common interpretive approach treats nonlifecontingent as contingency external to life. In this sense, a nonlifecontingent fact or object could fail to exist in some possible worlds, yet its existence would not hinge on biological processes, organisms, or life-driven conditions. This contrasts with phenomena that are argued to depend on life for their existence or ongoing realization, such as certain ecological or biotic dependencies.

Examples often discussed in this framework include inorganic matter (rocks, minerals), astronomical bodies (planets, stars), cosmic events, and perhaps some physical constants or laws described as contingent rather than necessary. However, the status of such items remains debated: some philosophers hold that many physical features are entangled with deeper, possibly necessary structures, while others maintain a clear distinction between life-dependent and nonlife-dependent contingencies.

Relation to broader terms: nonlifecontingent sits alongside broader notions of contingency, necessity, and possible worlds. It is distinct from life-contingent concepts that presume life or biotic processes as prerequisites for existence or manifestation. Because of its informal status, careful definition is advisable whenever the term is used. See also contingency, necessity, possible worlds, and philosophy of biology.