This collection of essays investigates the philosophical necessity of the accidental and the contingent within the framework of modern human existence. Odo Marquard, a prominent German philosopher, utilizes these seven essays to critique the totalizing tendencies of modern thought, particularly the drive to find absolute meaning or theodicy in history. By drawing on historical analysis and cultural critique, he argues that the human condition is defined not by rational necessity, but by the irreducible role of chance and luck.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to post-war German philosophy, noting Marquard's distinct, ironic style. Readers frequently highlight the density of the prose, which requires a foundational understanding of continental philosophy to fully grasp the author's arguments.