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 …

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.

Dec 1, 2025 · Accordingly, teleological language in the biological sciences is not to be taken literally; it is essentially a set of useful metaphors.

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 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.

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 …

Teleology is a philosophical concept that posits that everything has an inherent purpose or goal. This idea, originating with ancient Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, suggests that …

Definition of teleological adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Teleological means starting from the end and reasoning back, explaining things based on their end purpose. A teleological statement you've probably heard before is "everything happens for …

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