Property and common accident are both extrinsic to essence. Their distinction lies in the range of subjects to which the universal applies.
Property: a capacity peculiar to one species, such as the classical human example of laughter.
Common accident: a characteristic found across species, such as walking in humans and horses.
Observing a feature in one individual does not establish its logical class. Ask whether it is essential and, if not, whether it is exclusive to one species.
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The Five Predicables: Differentia, Property, Common Accident, Essential and Accidental Attributes
Property and common accident are both extrinsic to essence. Their distinction lies in the range of subjects to which the universal applies.
Property: a capacity peculiar to one species, such as the classical human example of laughter.
Common accident: a characteristic found across species, such as walking in humans and horses.
Observing a feature in one individual does not establish its logical class. Ask whether it is essential and, if not, whether it is exclusive to one species.