A secondary effect or byproduct that accompanies but does not causally influence a primary process or condition.
From epi- (upon) + phenomenon (something observed), from Greek phainomenon (appearing thing). First used in medicine to describe symptoms that appear alongside but don't cause a disease.
An epiphenomenon is the philosophical equivalent of a fever being the symptom but not the cause of an infection—it's real but it's not running the show!
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