Einzelhandlung

Einzelhandlung is a German term that denotes a single action performed by an individual actor. It is used primarily in academic contexts to treat the action as a discrete unit of analysis, in contrast to collective or institutional actions. The concept focuses on the agency of one person and the intentional, volitional aspects of the act.

In philosophy of action, Einzelhandlung is used to study aspects such as intentionality, motivation, and moral responsibility. It raises questions about whether an act is voluntary, how deliberation leads to a decision, and under what conditions an action can be attributed to a particular agent. The unit of analysis as an Einzelhandlung helps distinguish conscious, purpose-driven behavior from automatic or reflexive responses.

In sociology and social theory, the term is employed to examine how individual actions contribute to social life. Researchers may analyze how norms, beliefs, and personal goals shape a single act and how such acts aggregate into broader patterns, structures, or social processes. It serves as a contrast to collective or group actions that involve multiple actors or organizations.

In legal discourse, Einzelhandlung can appear in discussions about attribution of responsibility and the framing of offenses. It may be used to refer to a single act within the repertoire of criminal behavior or to distinguish one offender’s conduct from a sequence of events attributed to others.

See also: Handlung, Einzeltat, Kollektivhandlung.