Haecceity is a Latin neologism, formed as an abstract noun, derived from the demonstrative pronoun “haec(ce)” meaning “this(very)” or “these(very)”. The neologism is formed based on the word haecceitas, which translates as “thisness”.
It is used to denote something that has a status or qualities of individual existence rather than a general essence. Haecceitas is a term used by the medieval philosopher Duns Scotus to denote the principle of materialization. That is the principle by which something of general order, like humanity, is individualized to countless individuals.
The term is adopted by Charles Peirce and used with the same goal – to identify the principle of individualization.
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