teleological

[ tel-ee-uh-loj-i-kuh l, tee-lee- ]

/ ˌtɛl i əˈlɒdʒ ɪ kəl, ˌti li- /

of or relating to teleology, the philosophical doctrine that final causes, design, and purpose exist in nature.

Nearby words

Sometimes tel·e·o·log·ic.

tel·e·o·log·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·tel·e·o·log·i·cal, adjectivenon·tel·e·o·log·i·cal·ly, adverb

Finally, Obama weighed in with his teleological view of the historical process, revealing a rather optimistic and Whiggish view.
On ‘Hardball,’ Obama Touts HealthCare.gov, Dodges Clinton-Biden Talk|Ben Jacobs|December 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The pointy undergarment reached its teleological conclusion in 1990, when Gaultier designed the rocket cone bra for Madonna.
Bra of the Century|Rebecca Dana|June 15, 2010|DAILY BEAST
It is simply the Aristotelian distinction between efficient and teleological causation.
Leibniz's New Essays Concerning the Human Understanding|John Dewey
From the days of Plato to our own times, there have been but few objectors to the teleological or purposive view of nature.
Evolution, Old & New|Samuel Butler

The teleological faculty of judgment has also to consider this faculty of design.
A History of Philosophy in Epitome|Albert Schwegler
The metaphysical (teleological) principle can only be conceived of as the ultimate ground of the mechanism of Nature, 709.
Studies in the Theory of Descent (Volumes 1 and 2)|August Weismann
Such, on these principles, is their teleological explanation.
History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, Volume I (of 2)|John William Draper