Word for "arbitrary but necessary."
 

I saw someone else do this and it struck me as a really good idea. There's this word I've been taught before that I've been trying to figure out for a few years now.

This word means "arbitrary but necessary." Like which side of the road you drive on is a ________ choice. Maybe the word choice is already implied by the word, I'm not sure. This example is a good one because it really demonstrates the meaning of the word. It really doesn't matter which side you choose but it is essential that you choose a side as your convention.

Can anyone figure this out? Thanks!

I don't know if rational would work.

The word rational implies a choice (arbitrary), but I don't know if it provides the necessity you are looking for. It is "what makes sense," and i think it can be applied to your example. What do you think....

discretionary?
contingent?

how about: arbinecetrary ?? :p

imperative?

mandatory?

mundane came to mind

These two words have different meanings.

In other words, you can't have a decision that is determined by "chance, whim or impulse" that at the same time is "absolutely essential."

That would be a contradiction. No such word exists.

By definition, something can't be arbitrary but necessary. It is either one or the other.

If you are looking for a word to describe a choice that seems arbitrary, but is in fact necessary, you could use some of the following suggestions.

justifiable
understandable
defensible
essential


Mr Mephisto

I vehemntly disagree.

Yes, these two words are different but I don't think they are contradictory and especially not when used in this context. Did you read my example? It was a good one and it's right up there, so I won't bother repeating it. Instead, I guess I'll try to come up with another...

You're walking along a path and you encounter a fork in the road. Which ramification do you go down? Since you have no idea where they lead, it's arbitrary which one you take. One isn't any better than the other. However, you must pick one! You can't go back, so the decision is necessary. "Arbitrary but necessary," get it?

I don't think these two words are any more contradictory than ignorant and intelligent...

Erm... how can you say they're not contradictory?

I'm not trying to be smart or cheeky, but read their definition in a dictionary. They ARE different.

One means "not by necessity, reason, or principle" and the other means "Absolutely essential."

I honestly think you're confusing the issue here.

As I said, something can appear arbitrary, but is in fact necessary. No problems there. But it can't be both at the same time!

The side of the road you choose to drive on is not arbitrary. That would imply you make up your mind,each and every time, on a whim with no aforethought or reasoning; whilst in fact, you drive on a particular side because it is necessary. Necessary to avoid breaking the law and necessary to ensure your safety.

So based on what you say above, you suggest that the decision is not necessary, but the making of the decision is necessary. Is that it?

It's a fact that both words are mutually exclusive when referring to the nature of a decision. However, if you are refering to the act of making the decision, then arbitrary does not really apply at all. We are talking about the conditions relating to the decision, not the basis or value of the decision itself.

In such a case, you could then use "snap decision" or something similiar I guess.

Still not really sure where you're going with this.

I don't really know how to respond to that. Ignorant and intelligent, whilst not exactly of opposite meanings, are antonyms and generally mutually exclusive; at least by implication.


Mr Mephisto

Okay, I can see the distinction between the necessity of a decision and a necessary decision (although I still think of the latter to be the same as the former but I do understand that it can be interperted differently under different contexts), in which case, I can see your point.

However, after having re-read my original post, it became clear to me that the term "arbitrary but necessary" was merely a summation of a definition of a word and it made a good subject title. My mystery word's definition was demonstrated in context yet, you proceeded to ignore this and, instead, concentrated on this literal description and simply declared that "no such word exists!" Because of this, I can't help but think you are being "smart" or "cheeky," rather than honestly trying to help me find this word.

So, let's start this again.
A word that can be used to describe a decision that is arbitrary but must necessarily be made. In point of fact, the "which side of the road to drive on" example is exactly the context with which I had first heard this word.

Any ideas?

Erm...No I wasn't.

I didn't ignore what you said. Indeed, I further went to make five distinct suggestions.

"Arbitrary" and "necessary" are mutually exclusive by definition.

When is it necessary to make a decision on whim?

I can't help you think I am lying and are indeed trying to be a smart-ass, despite the fact that I explicitly went out of my way to say I wasn't, so there's not much more for me to say on the subject.

Mr Mephisto

You made five suggestions based on this definition:
There is nothing seemingly arbitrary about this decision. It really doesn't matter if you drive on the left or the right side of the road.

You've already established that "arbitrary" and "necessary" are not being used to describe the same thing in this example so it doesn't really matter if they're mutually exclusive, now does it? The idea still makes sense.

It is often necessary to make a decision where that decision can be made on a whim. Again, what about my example? It makes no difference what side of the road you drive on so that choice is arbitrary. However, it is essential (necessary) to pick some side as your convention. There is a word to describe this and it was as cool as "surreal" or "specious" (some of my favourite words!).

Now, I can understand if you don't know what this word is (no one else seems to) but that's a far cry from saying that this word doesn't exist!

Hmm, not that I want to drag this out any longer but I don't think these two words are any more contradictory than communism and democracy...

I think it's the 'necessary' that's causing the problem. Which side of the road your culture chooses to drive on is arbitrary; there's no particular reason for picking one or the other as evidenced by the fact that many countries use each side. However, it's not necessary to drive on the left, or necessary to drive on the right - it's necessary that a choice is made, which I think is what KnifeMissile may be after.
In short, the choice isn't necessary (the result of the choice) - but it's necessary that a choice is made (or we'd all hit each other, as Mr Mephisto points out).

How about pointless since it apparently doesn't really matter?