end in itself
Self-justifying goal
Something pursued for its own sake rather than as a means to something else.
Philosophy distinguishes ends in themselves from instrumental goods—money is useful for what it buys, but happiness might be an end in itself.
She treats gardening as an end in itself, not a way to save on groceries.
The phrase often carries implicit criticism when applied to activities that should serve larger purposes: The meeting became an end in itself.
- intrinsicBelonging by nature
- fundamentalForming the base
- essentialFundamentally necessary
- inherentExisting as essential part
- objectivePurpose or goal
integral · human flourishing · living well · flow state · teleology · intrinsic motivation · end · craftsmanship · meaningful work · deontology · categorical imperative · art for art's sake · purpose · beauty · creative expression · sublime · telos · Aristotle
end in itselfmeans to an end
Tool toward a goal
instrumental · extrinsic value · tool · expedient · vehicle
end in itselfmeans to an end
Tool toward a goal
subgoal · waystation · prerequisite · stopgap
ends, ended, ending, endings, endless, endlessly, endlessness, self, selves