Määritelmälläs

Määritelmälläs is a Finnish term that translates to "definitional" or "by definition" in English. It is used in various contexts, particularly in academic, logical, and philosophical discussions, to indicate something that is true based solely on its definition or the meaning of the terms involved.

The phrase signifies a statement that is inherently true because its truth is contained within the definition of its components. For example, a triangle is by definition a three-sided polygon. Therefore, the statement "a triangle has three sides" is määritelmälläs true. It doesn't require empirical evidence or further proof; its validity stems directly from the established meaning of the word "triangle."

In logic, a määritelmälläs truth is a tautology, a statement that is true in all possible interpretations. This is in contrast to empirical truths, which are based on observation and can potentially be proven false. The concept of määritelmälläs is crucial for understanding a priori knowledge, which is knowledge that can be known independently of experience.

The term can also be used in a more general sense to emphasize that something is a fundamental characteristic or consequence of a particular concept or situation. For instance, if a certain behavior is considered a defining trait of a group, one might say that this behavior is "määritelmälläs" part of their identity. Its usage underscores the inherent and undeniable nature of the characteristic being discussed.