konsekvens

Konsekvens is a noun used in Norwegian and Swedish to denote the result or outcome of an action, event, or set of circumstances. It can refer to a practical outcome, a predicted result, or a logical consequence following from a premise. In everyday use, 'konsekvens' often implies a natural or expected result, sometimes with a negative connotation when consequences are undesirable.

The word derives from Latin 'consequentia' via Old French and other European languages; in the Nordic languages it entered standard vocabulary in the early modern period. The form is similar across Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish, reflecting shared linguistic roots and Latin borrowings.

In philosophy, 'konsekvens' is central to discussions of consequence-based ethics, notably consequentialism, which judges actions by their outcomes. Critics distinguish between logical consequences, derived from a set of statements, and causal consequences, resulting from events in the physical world. The term also appears in debates about responsibility and accountability for actions.

In science, governance, and law, analysing consequences informs predictions, risk assessment, and policy decisions. In law, the expected consequences of behavior can influence penalties; in public policy, impact assessments and cost–benefit analyses focus on the social and economic effects of proposals.

Vanlige uttrykk er 'konsekvens av' og uttrykk som 'langvarig konsekvens' eller 'kortsiktige konsekvenser'.