Välineellisiä

Välineellisiä is the plural partitive form of the Finnish adjective välineellinen, meaning instrumental or utilitarian. It is used to describe things that function as means to an end rather than as ends in themselves.

In academic discourse it appears in philosophy, sociology, and political science to label reasoning, values, or policies that are oriented toward efficiency, calculability, and tool-like usefulness. The concept is often contrasted with intrinsic or non-instrumental considerations.

Common collocations include välineellisiä keinoja (instrumental means), välineellisiä päämääriä (instrumental goals), and välineellisiä arvoja (instrumental values). The term is frequently employed in discussions of instrumental rationality, such as Max Weber's analyses, where actions are judged by their effectiveness in achieving goals.

Usage can carry a normative or critical nuance depending on context. While some texts describe välineellisiä orientations descriptively, others critique them for instrumentalizing people, objects, or ethical concerns.

See also: instrumental rationality, instrumental value, intrinsic value, instrumentalism.