Lähtökohtaisesta

Lähtökohtaisesta is the elative singular form of the Finnish adjective lähtökohtainen, which means starting-point, baseline, or foundational. The term is used to describe something that serves as a basis or premise for further reasoning, analysis, or conclusions. In practice, lähehtökohtaisesta indicates that a statement, assessment, or decision is grounded in a specific starting point, condition, or assumption rather than in universal or absolute standards.

Etymology and grammar: The word is derived from the noun lähtökohta (starting point) plus the adjective-forming suffix -ainen. The -sta/-stä ending marks the elative case, signaling origin or source; thuslähtökohtaisesta can appear in phrases where the modifier governs a noun in the elative, for example in expressions like lähtökohtaisesta näkökulmasta (from a baseline perspective) or lähtökohtaisesta oletuksesta (from the initial assumption). In Finnish, such inflected forms are common when linking modifiers to the cases of the nouns they describe.

Usage and nuance: Lähtökohtaisesta is common in academic, policy, and analytical writing to clarify that arguments, models, or evaluations are anchored to a defined starting point. It emphasizes the conditional nature of findings and the dependence on specified premises or data sets. The term conveys a methodological stance rather than a fixed concept, and it is often paired with nouns like oletus, arviot, näkökulma, or peruste to articulate the basis of reasoning.

See also: lähtökohta, lähtökohtainen, oletus, peruste, näkökohta.