periaatteilla

Periaatteilla is the adessive plural form of the Finnish noun periaate, meaning principle, rule, or guideline. In use, periaatteilla often signals that actions, policies, or reasoning are guided by a set of established principles or standards. It expresses a basis or foundation for what is being described.

The term appears in discussions of ethics, governance, business, and law, where decisions are described as being made or conducted on the basis of principles. It can convey a contrast with expediency or pragmatism, emphasizing principled or value-based conduct. Although common in formal writing, periaatteilla can also appear in policy documents, reports, and parliamentary discourse.

Grammatically, periaatteilla is the plural adessive form, used to indicate location or basis “on/with the principles.” The related forms include periaate (singular), periaatteet (nominative plural), and periaateissa or periaatteisiin for other cases. In practice, speakers often pair periaatteilla with verbs such as toimia (to operate), noudattaa (to adhere to), or perustaa (to base on): for example, decisions made on the basis of principles; an organization operating on principled grounds.

See also: periaate, periaatteet, periaatteiden mukaan. For broader context, it is common to discuss eettiset periaatteet (ethical principles), yrityksen periaatteet (company principles), and sääntöihin pohjautuva toiminta (principle-based operation).