Relating to or being an epiphenomenon; being a secondary effect or byproduct that does not causally influence the underlying process.
From epiphenomenon + -al (adjectival suffix). Used in philosophy and science to describe effects that accompany but don't influence primary causes.
If a philosophical argument is epiphenomenal, it means it's along for the ride but not actually steering—that's a pretty damning thing to call someone's reasoning!
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