Teleology
noun
The theory or belief that everything has a purpose or goal.
The philosopher argued that the teleology of all life is growth and expansion.
Often appears as...
- form of teleology
- teleology of life
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
The belief in or the perception of purposeful development towards an end, as in nature or history.
According to teleology, every event has a purpose or end goal.
Often appears as...
- teleology in philosophy
- belief in teleology
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
The study of design and purpose in natural phenomena.
Through the lens of teleology, the biologist examined the purpose of specific functions within ecosystems.
Often appears as...
- teleology in science
- teleology in biology
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
The theory or belief that everything has a purpose or goal.
The philosopher argued that the teleology of all life is growth and expansion.
Often appears as...
- form of teleology
- teleology of life
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
The belief in or the perception of purposeful development towards an end, as in nature or history.
According to teleology, every event has a purpose or end goal.
Often appears as...
- teleology in philosophy
- belief in teleology
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
The study of design and purpose in natural phenomena.
Through the lens of teleology, the biologist examined the purpose of specific functions within ecosystems.
Often appears as...
- teleology in science
- teleology in biology
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Purposeful Actions
Teleology implies intention and goal-orientation in actions or creations.
Artists often exhibit teleology in their work to convey a message.
Pro Tip 2/3Organic Growth
In biology, teleology can explain the evolution of organisms towards complexity.
The teleology of plants is evident in their growth towards sunlight.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Purpose
In history, teleology can mean events leading to an intended or inevitable end.
Historians debate the teleology of the Roman Empire's expansion.
Compare with
designdeterminismfinalityintentional
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Quote examples
Mark Fisher
British Writer
Pele featured in the Brazilophile imaginary as the a figure of non-utile excess, a carefree artist in the Nietzschean sense, indifferent to the narrow teleology of winning matches... check the way that most of the endlessly replayed footage we see of Pele is not of him scoring goals, but audaciously missing chances contrived by force of wit.
Quote examples
Alfred Adler
Austrian Psychologist
Every individual acts and suffers in accordance with his peculiar teleology, which has all the inevitability of fate, so long as he does not understand it.
Quote examples
Mark Fisher
British Writer
Pele featured in the Brazilophile imaginary as the a figure of non-utile excess, a carefree artist in the Nietzschean sense, indifferent to the narrow teleology of winning matches... check the way that most of the endlessly replayed footage we see of Pele is not of him scoring goals, but audaciously missing chances contrived by force of wit.
Quote examples
Alfred Adler
Austrian Psychologist
Every individual acts and suffers in accordance with his peculiar teleology, which has all the inevitability of fate, so long as he does not understand it.
Example 1 of 2
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