Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
contingent feature
English answer:
(not) solely the result of the particular historical circumstances
Added to glossary by
Charles Davis
Sep 20, 2013 07:31
10 yrs ago
English term
contingent feature
English
Social Sciences
Linguistics
term
The whole paragraph like this:" The posited structural analogy between our modernity and ancient Greece ought to be a hopeful thought for proponents of democracy. It suggests that political organization predicated on dispersed, common, and codified knowledge is not a contingent feature of a unique historical era."
What does " contingent feature " here?
What does " contingent feature " here?
Change log
Sep 25, 2013 10:20: Charles Davis Created KOG entry
Responses
+3
18 mins
Selected
(not) solely the result of the particular historical circumstances
The adjective "contingent" basically means dependent on specific circumstances. Here are the definitions in the online Oxford dictionary:
"1 subject to chance:
the contingent nature of the job
- (of losses, liabilities, etc.) that can be anticipated to arise if a particular event occurs.
2 (contingent on/upon) occurring or existing only if (certain circumstances) are the case; dependent on:
his fees were contingent on the success of his search
3 Philosophy true by virtue of the way things in fact are and not by logical necessity:
that men are living creatures is a contingent fact"
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/contingent?...
I think the intended meaning here is probably no. 3, but the others are closely related to it. The idea is the political organisation of ancient Greece is not something that could only have arisen in the particular circumstances of that era: it was not solely dependent upon the way things then were, but can arise at other times and in different circumstances.
"1 subject to chance:
the contingent nature of the job
- (of losses, liabilities, etc.) that can be anticipated to arise if a particular event occurs.
2 (contingent on/upon) occurring or existing only if (certain circumstances) are the case; dependent on:
his fees were contingent on the success of his search
3 Philosophy true by virtue of the way things in fact are and not by logical necessity:
that men are living creatures is a contingent fact"
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/contingent?...
I think the intended meaning here is probably no. 3, but the others are closely related to it. The idea is the political organisation of ancient Greece is not something that could only have arisen in the particular circumstances of that era: it was not solely dependent upon the way things then were, but can arise at other times and in different circumstances.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you for your help!"
+1
3 mins
limited to
“It suggests that political organization predicated on dispersed, common, and codified knowledge is not limited to a unique historical era.”
+1
16 mins
a feature incidental to
If A is contingent upn B, then it is dependent upon B, but not necessary to it. So, A cannot occur if B is absent, but might not occur even though B is present.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jenni Lukac (X)
2 days 3 hrs
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Thanks Jenni
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