Harkinnat

Harkinnat is the plural form of the Finnish noun harkinta, which denotes the act of weighing options and giving careful consideration. The term is used to refer to the deliberative phase in decision-making, and it can describe the set of factors, criteria, or reflections that influence a judgment or policy choice. Harkinnat appears in legal, administrative, academic, and business contexts, where deliberate analysis is emphasized over quick conclusions.

In practice, harkinnat can refer to both the process of weighing alternatives and the written or formal outputs that result from that process, such as assessment notes, criteria lists, or minutes of deliberations. The concept highlights methodical reflection, consideration of evidence, and the potential consequences of different courses of action.

Etymology and form: harkinnat is derived from harkinta, with the verb harkita meaning “to consider” or “to weigh.” The word is used unchanged across genders and numbers in Finnish, with the plural form indicating multiple instances or components of deliberation.

See also: harkinta, decision-making, deliberation, päätöksenteko.