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

The error of radical finalism, as also that of radical mechanism, is to extend too far the application of certain concepts that are natural to our intellect.

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

We must get beyond both points of view, both mechanism and finalism being, at bottom, only standpoints to which the human mind has been led by considering the work of man.

From Creative Evolution by Mitchell, Arthur

It claims to transcend both mechanism and finalism; but, as we announced at the beginning, it is nearer the second doctrine than the first.

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 Creative Evolution by Mitchell, Arthur