Käsitykset

Käsitykset is a Finnish noun meaning opinions, beliefs, notions, or conceptions about something. It denotes subjective interpretations or mental representations of reality and is used for both individual viewpoints and general or societal beliefs. In everyday use, käsitykset can refer to widely shared beliefs (yleiset käsitykset) or to more personal beliefs about a topic. The term is often contrasted with factual knowledge (tieto) or with attitudes (asenne).

Etymology: The noun derives from the verb käsittää "to understand" or "to regard," combined with the nominalizing suffix -itys, yielding "käsitys" and the plural "käsitykset."

Usage: Common contexts include politics, sociology, and philosophy, where researchers discuss käsitykset maailmasta (conceptions of the world) or käsitykset oikeudesta (conceptions of justice). The phrase yleiset käsitykset denotes mainstream or commonly held beliefs; käsitykset muuttuvat indicates beliefs change over time. The term is neutral but can carry evaluative nuance depending on context and tone.

See also: related terms such as näkemys (view), asenne (attitude), and tieto (knowledge).