finalism

American  

[fahyn-l-iz-uhm] / ˈfaɪn lˌɪz əm /

noun

1. the doctrine or belief that all events are determined by their purposes or goals.

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finalism British  

/ ˈfaɪnəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. philosophy the doctrine that final causes determine the course of all events

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Other Word Forms

• finalistic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of finalism

First recorded in 1905–10; final + -ism

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

finalism

Mechanism and finalism agree in taking account only of the bright nucleus shining in the centre.

From Creative Evolution by Mitchell, Arthur

The theory we shall put forward in this book will therefore necessarily partake of finalism to a certain extent.”

From Our Knowledge of the External World as a Field for Scientific Method in Philosophy by Russell, Bertrand

Mechanism and finalism are therefore, here, only external views of our conduct.

From Creative Evolution by Mitchell, Arthur

M. Bergson's form of finalism depends upon his conception of life.

From Our Knowledge of the External World as a Field for Scientific Method in Philosophy by Russell, Bertrand

But both mechanism and finalism would leave on one side the movement, which is reality itself.

From Creative Evolution by Mitchell, Arthur