Esineilläkuten

Esineilläkuten is a Finnish word that translates to "as objects" or "like objects" in English. It is a compound word formed from the plural genitive of "esine" (object) and the postposition "kuten" (like, as). The phrase is used to describe a situation where something is treated as if it were an inanimate object, often implying a lack of consideration for its true nature or its sentience.

This usage can appear in various contexts. For example, one might say someone is treating a person esineilläkuten if they are being disregarded, exploited, or not being afforded basic respect. Similarly, a complex system or idea might be described as esineilläkuten if it is being oversimplified or analyzed purely in terms of its components without acknowledging emergent properties or its interconnectedness. The implication is a reductionist view, stripping away agency, emotion, or inherent value.

The concept behind esineilläkuten highlights the distinction between animate and inanimate entities and the ethical or analytical implications of blurring that line. It serves as a linguistic tool to critique behavior or thought processes that dehumanize, de-sentientize, or oversimplify complex realities by reducing them to mere collections of physical attributes or functions.