Not per se意思

"Not per se" is a Latin phrase that means "not by itself" or "not in itself." It is used to indicate that something is not inherently a certain way, but may become so under certain circumstances or in combination with other factors. The phrase is often used in legal contexts, philosophy, and academic writing to qualify or clarify the nature of something being discussed.

For example, in a legal context, a judge might say that a certain action is not illegal per se, meaning that the action itself is not inherently illegal, but it could become illegal if taken in conjunction with other actions or under specific conditions.

In a philosophical discussion, one might argue that pleasure is not good per se, suggesting that pleasure is not inherently good or valuable, but it can be good depending on the context or the means by which it is achieved.

In academic writing, a researcher might state that a particular variable is not significant per se, meaning that it is not necessarily significant on its own, but it might become significant when combined with other variables or when considered in a different light.

The phrase "not per se" is used to add nuance and precision to discussions, especially when discussing complex issues or concepts where the inherent nature of something is not self-evident or universally agreed upon.