Réttlætingur

Réttlætingur is an Icelandic noun meaning “justification” or “the act of giving a justification.” In Icelandic-language scholarship, it is used to refer to the reasoning or grounds offered to support a claim, decision, or course of action. The term appears across disciplines such as law, philosophy, and rhetoric, where it denotes the logical or normative rationale connecting a claim to its premises.

In legal contexts, a réttlætingur is the justification offered for a verdict, sentence, or legal action. It typically encompasses both factual grounds (evidence of what happened) and normative grounds (why the action complies with law or moral norms). In jurisprudence, the strength and adequacy of a réttlætingur can be subject to review by courts or scholars.

In philosophy and argumentation theory, réttlætingur is close to the notion of a justification or warrant that makes an argument acceptable to an audience. It is distinguished from mere evidence by addressing why the premises support the conclusion and how conflicts are resolved.

In political rhetoric and everyday discourse, the term can describe the rhetorical frame used to defend decisions that may be controversial, appealing to public interest, rights, or social norms.

There are no widely known individuals, texts, or institutions named Réttlætingur in major public records. The term is primarily used as a linguistic tool for describing justification rather than as a standalone entity.