Endrelated

Endrelated is a neologism used in some academic discussions to describe phenomena, analysis, or reasoning that centers on ends—ultimate goals, purposes, or end states—rather than means or processes. The term is typically used in philosophy of action, ethics, and narrative theory to distinguish reasons, values, or plot elements anchored in ends from those anchored in instrumental considerations.

Etymology and usage: Endrelated is a compound formed from end and related; it is not a standardized term and appears mostly in specialized texts, sometimes rendered as end-related. It is defined by its contrast with means-related or process-focused perspectives and may be applied across domains where goals drive evaluation.

Applications: In decision theory and artificial intelligence, endrelated approaches weight final outcomes and goals; in ethics, endrelated reasoning assesses actions by alignment with intended ends, rather than merely following rules or duties. In narrative theory, endrelated analysis examines how plot elements and character motivation are structured around the ending or ultimate resolution.

Examples: In project planning, endrelated reasoning prioritizes steps that most directly advance the final objective, even if intermediate stages are more costly. In literature, a character’s actions might be described as endrelated if they are justified by the anticipated conclusion, even when the means are morally questionable.

Criticism: The term can be vague and overlapping with established notions such as teleology, telos, or instrumental rationality. Some scholars argue it adds little analytic precision and risks conflating motivation with outcome.

See also: teleology; telos; instrumental rationality; final causes; goal; end-state.