Skoðanir

Skoðanir is the plural form of skoðun in Icelandic, meaning opinions, views, or beliefs about a person, topic, or issue. The word derives from the verb skoða (to examine) and conveys a judgment formed by consideration, experience, or reflection rather than an indisputable fact.

Skoðanir are inherently subjective. People can hold different skoðanir about the same matter, and those views may be informed by evidence, reasoning, values, emotions, or traditions. The boundary between opinion and fact is often debated; opinions can be supported with arguments, while some statements are based on preferences, assumptions, or incomplete information. Skoðanir can change over time as new information becomes available or perspectives shift.

They are formed through various influences, including education, culture, media, and personal experience. People express their skoðanir in speech, writing, and public life, and they play a central role in discussions, politics, and policy debates. Because they are subjective, it is common to test skoðanir by asking for reasons, evidence, or alternative viewpoints, and to revise them in light of better arguments.

In a democratic society, the freedom to hold and express skoðanir is valued, but it also carries responsibility to engage respectfully, to avoid spreading misinformation, and to distinguish carefully between what is known, what is believed, and what is desired.