eftersträvan

Eftersträvan is a Swedish noun meaning the act or state of pursuing something, an aspiration or striving to achieve a goal. It describes a directed motivation toward an object of value, and it can be used for personal, social, or ethical aims. In everyday speech one might say "hon har en stark eftersträvan att förbättra sig själv" (she has a strong aspiration to improve herself) to indicate a determined personal goal.

Etymology: The word combines efter ("after," toward) and strävan ("striving," "endeavor"). The construction conveys a pursuit directed at a particular end, rather than merely performing an action associated with striving. The term is more formal or literary than "sträva" or "drivkraft."

Usage in philosophy and literature: Eftersträvan is used to discuss motivation, ends, and teleology, including moral or ideal goals such as justice, virtue, or excellence. It often appears in analyses of how individuals or societies organize aims and allocate effort, and it may contrast intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation.

Related terms and translation: In English, eftersträvan is often rendered as "aspiration" or "pursuit." Related Swedish terms include strävan (endeavor), mål (goal), and drivkraft (driving force).