teleology

Teleology is a branch of philosophy and a term used in various disciplines to denote explanations or analyses that appeal to ends, purposes, or goals. The word derives from the Greek telos, meaning end or aim, and logos, meaning study or account. Teleology can be understood as a way of explaining phenomena by reference to their intended outcomes or functions, rather than solely by prior causes or laws.

Historically, teleology played a central role in ancient philosophy. Aristotle argued that natural things have intrinsic ends and that some explanations must include a final cause, the purpose toward which a thing tends. In medieval thought, teleology was integrated with theology, and God was often posited as the ultimate final cause of the order of nature. In modern science, teleological explanations for natural phenomena are generally avoided in favor of mechanistic or causal accounts, though functional or goal-related descriptions persist in biology and the social sciences.

In biology, teleology is often used to describe the apparent functions of organs or traits. However, the Darwinian account of evolution by natural selection offers a non-teleological mechanism for the appearance of design, describing how functional traits emerge without foresight or purpose. In ethics, teleology refers to theories that evaluate actions by their consequences, such as utilitarianism, in contrast to deontological approaches that emphasize duties.

In theology, teleology is associated with the design argument for the existence of God and with the belief in purpose guiding creation. Contemporary discussions distinguish useful teleological language from metaphysical claims about actual purposes in nature.