óbreytanleika

Óbreytanleika is Icelandic for immutability or the quality of being unchangeable. The term describes something that does not undergo change over time or under varying conditions, and it is used across philosophy, theology, and related disciplines to denote a constant, essential feature rather than a temporary state.

The word is formed from breytanleiki, meaning changeability, with the prefix ó- negating it. The genitive form óbreytanleika is commonly used when discussing the property itself or attributing it to a subject, as in “the immutability of X.” The concept is often contrasted with changeability or variability in ordinary language and scholarly discussion.

In philosophy and theology, óbreytanleika is most often invoked to describe eternal or essential properties. Classical theism, for example, holds that God is immutable, not subject to temporal alteration in nature, will, or knowledge. In metaphysics, immutability may be attributed to abstract objects, laws, or mathematical truths that are considered timeless. In ethics and philosophy of science, debates arise about whether certain facts, values, or laws can truly be immutable or whether all aspects of reality exhibit some degree of change.

Óbreytanleika is distinct from the related notion of invariance, which refers to constancy under transformations rather than merely over time. Critics argue that strict immutability can conflict with notions of agency, contingency, or providence, leading to ongoing philosophical discussion.

See also: immutability, change, invariance, philosophy of religion, metaphysics.