Blackwell Reference Online

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A ncient G reek philosophy, philosophy of science, philosophy of religion [from Greek telos , the end or aim of a thing + logos , study] Aristotle assumed that everything that happens in the universe must be understood as the striving of something toward an end promoting its well-being or helping it to survive. He ascribes telos to plants and animals, believing that their behavior serves their needs and preserves their life. In view of the regularity in the natural world, he claims that nature itself must have an internal end or purpose. Aristotle did not admit a conscious , rational agent in his teleological explanation, but in the teleological argument or argument from design, the Christian tradition infers from the regularity in nature that there is a supernatural designer, God , who designed everything in the world to be of service to man. The theory of evolution denies the need to posit a purposive designer, but confirms that functional adaptation serves a purpose of survival in natural selection . Since purposive and functional activities are observed universally, teleology is much discussed in the philosophy of science. Whether functional or teleological explanation is a distinctive kind of explanation or can be reduced to causal explanation is a matter of controversy. “Questions about teleology are, broadly, to do with whether a thing has a purpose or ... log in or subscribe to read full text