Ändamålet

ändamålet is the definite form of the Swedish noun ändamål, meaning the purpose or aim. It refers to the desired outcome that a person, organization, or process intends to achieve. As a noun, it is used in both everyday speech and formal writing to name a specific end in view.

In Swedish, ändamål is often contrasted with medel (means). The end may be described with ändamålet, and syfte (purpose) can be used in many contexts as well, though ändamålet tends to emphasize the intended outcome and the plan to reach it. The word is common in technical, legal, and policy language, where a clearly defined end justifies or motivates actions.

In law and public administration, ändamålet designates the official objective of legislation, programs, or regulations. For example, ändamålet med lagen är att skydda konsumenterna. Such usage anchors texts to a concrete purpose and provides justification for the measures described.

In philosophy and ethics, the concept is linked to teleology—the study of ends or purposes in natural and human affairs. The proverb ändamålet helgar medlen (the end justifies the means) appears in discussions about moral trade-offs and policy decisions, though it remains controversial and widely debated in ethical theory.

Related terms include syfte (purpose) and mål (goal). The nuance among these words depends on context, with ändamålet often pointing to a defined end and the plan to realize it.