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Wirkkraft

Wirkkraft is a German noun formed from wirken (to act or to have an effect) and Kraft (power or force). It denotes the capacity of an agent or process to produce an effect or change. The term is used across disciplines to describe the force behind an action or phenomenon, beyond the mere mechanical quantity involved.

In physics, Wirkkraft is not a standard technical term. Modern physics uses Kraft to denote force, defined

In philosophy, psychology, and rhetoric, Wirkkraft describes efficacy or influence: the Wirkkraft of a reason, a

In esoteric or popular-language contexts, Wirkkraft may refer to perceived magical or symbolic power attributed to

by
Newton's
laws.
Historically,
writers
sometimes
used
Wirkkraft
to
express
the
effective
influence
of
a
force
in
a
given
situation,
but
this
usage
is
not
part
of
formal
terminology
and
can
cause
ambiguity.
policy,
a
habit,
or
a
will—its
power
to
bring
about
change.
The
term
is
qualitative
rather
than
a
measured
quantity,
emphasizing
outcome
over
formalism.
words,
rituals,
or
symbols.
Because
of
its
broad
range
of
meanings,
context
is
essential
to
determine
whether
it
refers
to
physical
influence,
psychological
effect,
or
metaphorical
power.