An Sich
An Sich
(Ger. literally in or by self. Lat. in se) Anything taken in itself without relation to anything else, especially without relation to a knowing consciousness. In Hegel’s philosophy whatever has disowned its relations is an sich. In this status it reveals its inner potentialities. Thus in Hegel’s system an sich frequently refers to that which is latent, undeveloped, or in certain connections, that which is unconscious. Kant used an sich more loosely to describe any thing independent of consciousness or experience. Thus he contrasted the “Ding-an-sich” (thing-in-itself) with appearance (phenomenon), the latter being a function of consciousness, the former outside all consciousness. — O.F.K.