Feb 4, 2026 · Accordingly, teleological language in the biological sciences is not to be taken literally; it is essentially a set of useful metaphors.

In Western philosophy, the term and concept of teleology originated in the writings of Plato and Aristotle. Aristotle's ' four causes ' gives a special place to the telos or "final cause" of each thing. In this, he …

Teleology has the basic meaning of "the study of ends or purposes." A teleologist attempts to understand the purpose of something by looking at its results.

Teleological ethics is the philosophical investigation of behavior where the moral rightness of an action is determined on the basis of its outcome. It is concerned neither with the morality of the choices …

A teleological theory is one that says, when there is a choice between alternative acts, that the right one to choose is the best.

Definition of teleological adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

The philosophical interpretation of natural phenomena as exhibiting purpose or design. 2. The use of ultimate purpose or design as a means of explaining phenomena. 3. Belief in or the perception of …

TELEOLOGICAL definition: of or relating to teleology, the philosophical doctrine that final causes, design, and purpose exist in nature. See examples of teleological used in a sentence.

Mar 20, 1996 · Most post-Darwinian approaches attempt to naturalize teleology in biology, in opposition to nineteenth-century viewpoints which grounded it theologically. Nevertheless, biologists and …

Dec 28, 2024 · Derived from the Greek words telos (end, purpose, or goal) and logos (study or discourse), teleology is a theoretical framework that examines phenomena in terms of their ultimate …