eiihmislähtöinen

Ei ihmislähtöinen is a Finnish term used to describe approaches, theories, or policies that are not oriented toward human interests. In practice, it designates a non-anthropocentric perspective, in which non-human factors such as ecosystems, animals, and ecological integrity are given priority alongside or above human concerns. The expression is common in debates about design, ethics, and governance.

Etymology and form: The phrase derives from ihminen ("human") and lähtöinen ("based on" or "originated from"), with ei indicating negation. It is typically written as two words, ei ihmislähtöinen, but some texts hyphenate as ei-ihmislähtöinen. The form eiihmislähtöinen (as a single word) is occasionally seen as a typographic variant.

Usage and contexts: In environmental ethics, urban planning, product and technology design, and policy analysis, ei ihmislähtöinen signals a shift away from human-centered criteria toward non-human values such as biodiversity, animal welfare, and ecosystem health. It is most often encountered in academic writing and critical discourse.

Relation to related concepts: It is closely related to ecosentrism/ecocentrism and biocentrism, and stands in contrast to anthropocentrism. While not implying hostility to humans, the stance expands the scope of consideration to include non-human stakeholders and ecological processes.

See also: Anthropocentrism, Ecocentrism, Biocentrism, Ecosystem health.