Motsättning

Motsättning is a Swedish noun meaning opposition or antagonism. It refers to a state or relationship in which two or more parties, ideas, or forces stand opposed to one another, often producing conflict, contrast, or debate. The term can be used to describe personal disputes, political antagonism, or competing viewpoints, as well as more abstract tensions between concepts or theories.

Etymology and nuance: Motsättning is formed from the verb motsätta, “to oppose,” with the noun-forming suffix -ning. It is closely related to motsats, which denotes an opposite thing or idea, but motsättning emphasizes active opposition or the presence of conflicting forces rather than a simple difference.

Usage in different contexts: In politics, motsättning can refer to antagonism between government and opposition groups, or between competing policy positions. In discourse and rhetoric, it can denote the existence of counterclaims or opposing arguments that must be considered in a debate. In philosophy, science, or linguistics, it may describe the contrast or tension between two concepts, hypotheses, or theoretical frameworks. In everyday language, it commonly denotes a quarrel or friction between individuals or communities.

Related terms: Motsats (opposite), konflikt (conflict), antagonism, and opposition in a political sense. In logic or formal argumentation, the term may sometimes be used to describe a contradiction or refuting relation between statements, though more precise terms such as negation or contradiction are often preferred in technical contexts.

See also: motsats, konflikt, logik, argumentation.