Teleology

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈtÉ›l.iˌɒl.É™.dÊ’i/

Origin

From Ancient Greek τέλος (telos, "purpose") + λόγος (logos, "word, speech, discourse")

Full definition of teleology

Noun

1. (philosophy) The study of the purpose or design of natural occurrences.
2. (by extension) An instance of such a design or purpose, usually in natural phenomena.
• 2011, Paul A. Rahe, Truths You Cannot Utter: In short, what every student of biology knows – that within nature there is a teleology having to do with the survival of the species which underpins the distinction between the two sexes and produces between them a natural affinity for one another – no surgeon who knows what is good for him may now say.
3. The use of a non-natural purpose or design to explain an occurrence.

Related terms

• teleologic
• teleological
• teleologically
• teleologist