Intrinsicarvoja

Intrinsicarvoja is a term used in Finnish-language philosophical and ethical discussions to refer to intrinsic values—values that entities possess in and of themselves, independent of external use or relationships to human preferences. The form combines the Finnish arvo for value with the concept of intrinsic worth, and is commonly used in debates about what things deserve moral or practical consideration in their own right.

In practice, intrinsic value may be argued to reside in various kinds of entities: sentient beings capable of suffering or flourishing, living ecosystems, artworks with expressiveness, and cultures or communities with meaningful integrity. Proponents claim these objects have worth beyond their utility; critics contend that “intrinsic” is a contested idea and that all values ultimately derive from human attitudes, language, or social practices.

The concept informs environmental ethics, animal rights, aesthetics, and debates about conservation and policy. It contrasts with instrumental value, which only exists to serve other ends, such as economic gain or practical outcomes. The main challenges include definitional vagueness, disagreements about which properties confer intrinsic value, and how to balance intrinsic value with other claims in decision making.

See also: intrinsic value, instrumental value, moral considerability, value theory.