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.

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 …

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

Teleological ethics is the philosophical investigation of behavior where the moral rightness of an action is determined on the basis of its outcome. It is concerned neither with the morality of the choices …

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 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 …

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.

Teleology is the belief that natural phenomena, events, and processes have an inherent purpose or design, rather than being the result of random chance or mechanical necessity.

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, adj. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary