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teleology
[ tel-ee-ol-uh-jee, tee-lee- ]
noun
- the doctrine that final causes exist.
- the study of the evidences of design or purpose in nature.
- such design or purpose.
- the belief that purpose and design are a part of or are apparent in nature.
- (in vitalist philosophy) the doctrine that phenomena are guided not only by mechanical forces but that they also move toward certain goals of self-realization.
teleology
/ ˌtiːlɪ-; ˌtɛlɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl; ˌtiːlɪ-; ˌtɛlɪˈɒlədʒɪ /
noun
- philosophy
- the doctrine that there is evidence of purpose or design in the universe, and esp that this provides proof of the existence of a Designer
- the belief that certain phenomena are best explained in terms of purpose rather than cause
- the systematic study of such phenomena See also final cause
- biology the belief that natural phenomena have a predetermined purpose and are not determined by mechanical laws
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Derived Forms
- ˌteleˈologism, noun
- ˌteleoˈlogically, adverb
- teleological, adjective
- ˌteleˈologist, noun
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Other Words From
- tel·e·o·log·i·cal [tel-ee-, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l, tee-lee-], tele·o·logic adjective
- tele·olo·gism noun
- tele·olo·gist noun
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Word History and Origins
Origin of teleology1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of teleology1
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Example Sentences
In the times of the ancients the preponderance of opinion was in favour of teleology, though impugners were not wanting.
Such orderly evolution harmonizes with a teleology derived, not indeed from external nature directly, but from the mind of man.
Neither mechanism nor teleology can give an absolute answer to ultimate questions.
And there is a sort of teleology in Hegel evidently inspired by his religious education.
Mechanism and teleology do not exclude one another, they are rather in mutual agreement.
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