willkürlichkeit

Willkürlichkeit is a German term that translates to arbitrariness in English. It describes something that is based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system. In philosophical and linguistic contexts, willkürlichkeit often refers to the arbitrary nature of the relationship between a signifier (a word or symbol) and its signified (the concept it represents). This means that the word "tree" has no inherent connection to the actual plant; the connection is a matter of convention within a language community.

The concept of willkürlichkeit is central to Ferdinand de Saussure's structural linguistics. He argued that language is a system of signs where meaning arises from the differences and relationships between these signs, rather than from any natural or divinely ordained connection between words and things. This arbitrariness allows for the flexibility and evolution of language.

Beyond linguistics, willkürlichkeit can also describe decisions or actions that lack logical justification or objective criteria. For instance, a judge's sentencing might be criticized as willkürlich if it appears to be based on personal bias rather than established legal principles. Similarly, in mathematics or logic, a conclusion reached through arbitrary assumptions rather than rigorous deduction would be considered willkürlich. The term generally implies a lack of necessity, randomness, or subjective choice.