epiphenomenon noun. [,ɛpɪfǝ'nɒmɪnǝn] Pl. -mena [-mɪnǝ]. E17.
[from EPI- + PHENOMENON.]
1. Medicine. A secondary symptom occurring with a disease but not necessarily regarded as its result or cause. E17.

2. Philosophy & Psychology. A concomitant or by-product of something; spec. consciousness or mental phenomena regarded as by-products of the physical activity of the brain and nervous system that do not influence behaviour. L19.

■ epiphenomenal adjective of the nature of or pertaining to epiphenomena L19.

■ epiphenomenalism noun the doctrine that consciousness is an epiphenomenon L19.

■ epiphenomenalist adjective & noun (a) adjective of or pertaining to epiphenomenalism; (b) noun an advocate of epiphenomenalism: E20.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲