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 …

Mar 21, 2026 · Teleology is the explanation of something by reference to its purpose, end goal, or function. The word comes from the Greek “telos,” meaning “end,” and “logos,” meaning “reason.” …

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

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.

The European Court's method of interpreting Community legal texts is primarily teleological, that is to say the interpretation of a provision on the basis of its object and purpose.

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.

Teleological ethics, says that one’s ethical decisions should be based on final goals and ends; deontology says that ethics should be based on commitments to moral principles, without regard for …

Teleology is a philosophical concept that posits that everything has an inherent purpose or goal. This idea, originating with ancient Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, suggests that both objects …

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 means starting from the end and reasoning back, explaining things based on their end purpose. A teleological statement you've probably heard before is "everything happens for a reason."