"Per se" is a Latin phrase that means "in itself" or "intrinsically." It is used to emphasize that something is considered to be true or applicable in its own right, without needing further qualification or explanation. For example, if someone says, "The book itself, per se, is not valuable, but the knowledge it contains is priceless," they are indicating that the inherent value lies in the knowledge contained within the book, rather than the physical object itself.