teleology

[ tel-ee-ol-uh-jee, tee-lee- ]

/ ˌtɛl iˈɒl ə dʒi, ˌti li- /

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noun Philosophy.

the doctrine that final causes exist.

the study of the evidences of design or purpose in nature.

such design or purpose.

the belief that purpose and design are a part of or are apparent in nature.

(in vitalist philosophy) the doctrine that phenomena are guided not only by mechanical forces but that they also move toward certain goals of self-realization.

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Origin of teleology

From the New Latin word teleologia, dating back to 1730–40. See teleo-, -logy

OTHER WORDS FROM teleology

tel·e·o·log·i·cal

[tel-ee-uh-loj-i-kuhl, tee-lee-], /ˌtɛl i əˈlɒdʒ ɪ kəl, ˌti li-/, tel·e·o·log·ic, adjectivetel·e·ol·o·gism, nountel·e·ol·o·gist, noun

Words nearby teleology

telenovela, teleo-, teleobjective lens, teleological, teleological argument, teleology, teleonomy, teleost, telepath, telepathist, telepathize

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use teleology in a sentence

In the times of the ancients the preponderance of opinion was in favour of teleology, though impugners were not wanting.
Evolution, Old & New|Samuel Butler
Such orderly evolution harmonizes with a teleology derived, not indeed from external nature directly, but from the mind of man.
On the Genesis of Species|St. George Mivart
Neither mechanism nor teleology can give an absolute answer to ultimate questions.
Evolution in Modern Thought|Ernst Haeckel
And there is a sort of teleology in Hegel evidently inspired by his religious education.
History of Modern Philosophy|Alfred William Benn

Mechanism and teleology do not exclude one another, they are rather in mutual agreement.
Studies in the Theory of Descent (Volumes 1 and 2)|August Weismann

British Dictionary definitions for teleology

teleology

/ (ˌtɛlɪˈɒlədʒɪ, ˌtiːlɪ-) /

noun

philosophy

the doctrine that there is evidence of purpose or design in the universe, and esp that this provides proof of the existence of a Designer
the belief that certain phenomena are best explained in terms of purpose rather than cause
the systematic study of such phenomenaSee also final cause

biology the belief that natural phenomena have a predetermined purpose and are not determined by mechanical laws

Derived forms of teleology

teleological (ˌtɛlɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, ˌtiːlɪ-) or teleologic, adjectiveteleologically, adverbteleologism, nounteleologist, noun

Word Origin for teleology

C18: from New Latin teleologia, from Greek telos end + -logy

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012