Etiikallinen

Etiikallinen is a Finnish adjective meaning related to ethics or pertaining to ethical considerations. It is formed from the noun etiikka (ethics) with the suffix -llinen, which in Finnish often denotes a characteristic or relation. In modern usage, etikkallinen is less common than the more everyday eettinen, and is typically found in more formal, academic, or theoretical contexts.

In practice, etikkallinen may appear in discussions that emphasize ethical theory or the discipline of ethics, for example in phrases like etikkalliset periaatteet or etiikasta käsin tarkasteltavat kysymykset. Many speakers prefer eettinen in everyday language, using eettiset arvoalueet, eettiset periaatteet, or eettinen päätös to express moral suitability or normative ethics.

Nuances between etikkallinen and eettinen are subtle. Eettinen is the standard term for “ethical” in common usage, describing what is morally acceptable or aligns with ethical norms. Etiikallinen can be used to highlight a relation to the field of ethics or to ethical theory, rather than simply practical morality. In contrast, moraali and moraalinen refer more directly to moral principes or moral philosophy, and are often used interchangeably with ethical in non-technical contexts.

See also: Etiikka, Eettinen, Moraali, Moraalifilosofia.