Handlungen

Handlungen (plural of Handlung) is a German noun meaning action, deed, or conduct. It covers both concrete acts performed by a person and, in broader contexts, sequences of events in a narrative. In everyday language, eine Handlung is something someone does, for example, das Abschicken eines Briefes ist eine Handlung.

In literature and film, Handlung also denotes the plot or storyline: die Handlung eines Romans describes what happens to the characters and how the story develops. The term thus connects events on the page with the agency of the characters and, more generally, with the progression of a narrative.

Etymology and scope: The term derives from handeln, to act or to trade; the noun's primary sense is an act or undertaking, with a specialized sense in storytelling where it refers to the sequence of acts driving the narrative forward.

Philosophical and ethical usage: In philosophy and ethics, Handlungen are typically intentional actions by agents and are explicitly subject to evaluation—moral, legal, or practical. The study of Handlungen involves intention, responsibility, and sometimes freedom of will; in Kantian ethics, moral evaluation rests on the maxims underlying a Handlung rather than on its consequences alone.

Legal and social science usage: In law, Handlungen are acts by a person that may have legal consequences, including intentional or negligent actions. In the social sciences, researchers examine how norms, incentives, and social context shape human Handlungen and their outcomes.