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 …

Apr 1, 2026 · How does teleology compare to scientific explanations like evolution? What are some debates or criticisms about teleology in modern philosophy and science?

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.” …

The meaning of TELEOLOGY is the study of evidences of design in nature.

Teleology, from the Greek word telos, meaning “purpose” or “end,” is the study of goals, ends, purposes, and destinies–if they exist, but few philosophers believe they do.

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 …

Teleology is the study of the purpose or goal-directedness of natural phenomena. It explores the idea that events, processes, and the natural world as a whole have an inherent purpose or design, rather …

Teleology (from Greek words telos, “end,” and logos, “reason, discourse”) is the study of processes in nature as they are driven by their ends, goals, and purposes.

We argue for teleology as a description of the way in which we ordinarily understand others’ intentional actions. Teleology starts from the close resemblance between the reasoning involved in …

Mar 30, 2026 · teleology (countable and uncountable, plural teleologies) (uncountable, philosophy) The study of the design or final purpose of natural occurrences, that is, of such occurrences being the …