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Teleology

Either: a kind of explanation that makes reference to an end, goal, or purpose (“teleological explanation”); or, a kind of phenomenon characterized by apparent or actual goal-directedness (“teleological phenomena”).

References:

Lennox, J.G. (1992). “Teleology.” In E.F. Keller, & E.A. Lloyd (Eds.), Keywords in evolutionary biology (pp. 324–333). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Allied Concepts:
Adaptation, Agency (Intentional), Agency (General, or Minimal), Teleology (External, or Extrinsic), Teleology (Internal, or Intrinsic), Teleonomy
Related Clusters:
Higher-Level Agency and Directionality in Ecology and Earth Science, (Re)Conceptualizing Function and Goal-Directedness
Topical Filter:
Ancient and Early Modern Natural Philosophy, Causation in Development and Evolution, Directionality in Development and Evolution

Teleology (External, or Extrinsic)

A kind of quality or phenomenon characterized by actual or apparent goal-directedness in which the goal (real or apparent), and the agency by which the goal is achieved, are imparted to the system exhibiting the quality or phenomenon in question. Compare to “Teleology (Internal, or Intrinsic).”

References:

Lennox, J.G. (1992). “Teleology.” In E.F. Keller, & E.A. Lloyd (Eds.), Keywords in evolutionary biology (pp. 324–333). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Allied Concepts:
Adaptation, Agency (Intentional), Natural selection, Teleology, Teleology (Internal, or Intrinsic)
Related Clusters:
Higher-Level Agency and Directionality in Ecology and Earth Science, (Re)Conceptualizing Function and Goal-Directedness
Topical Filter:
Adaptation and Adaptationism, Ancient and Early Modern Natural Philosophy, Causation in Development and Evolution, Directionality in Development and Evolution, Function and Teleology

Teleology (Internal, or Intrinsic)

A kind of quality or phenomenon characterized by actual or apparent goal-directedness in which the goal (real or apparent), and the agency by which the goal is achieved, inhere in the system exhibiting the quality or phenomenon in question. Compare to “Teleology (External, or Extrinsic).”

References:

Lennox, J.G. (1992). “Teleology.” In E.F. Keller, & E.A. Lloyd (Eds.), Keywords in evolutionary biology (pp. 324–333). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Allied Concepts:
Adaptation, Regulation (Biological), Teleology, Teleology (External, or Extrinsic), Teleonomy
Related Clusters:
Agency and Directionality in Development, Agential Behavior and Plasticity in Evolution, Higher-Level Agency and Directionality in Ecology and Earth Science, (Re)Conceptualizing Function and Goal-Directedness
Topical Filter:
Ancient and Early Modern Natural Philosophy, Causation in Development and Evolution, Directionality in Development and Evolution, Function and Teleology

Teleonomy

The quality of apparent goal-directedness, particularly in living systems.

References:

Pittendrigh, C.S. (1958). “Adaptation, natural selection, and behavior.” In A. Roe, & G.G. Simpson (Eds.), Behavior and evolution (pp. 390–416). New Haven: Yale University Press.

Allied Concepts:
Adaptation, Agency (General, or Minimal), Natural selection, Teleology, Teleology (Internal, or Intrinsic)
Related Clusters:
Agency and Directionality in Development, Agential Behavior and Plasticity in Evolution, Evolutionary Origins and Transitions of Agency
Topical Filter:
Causation in Development and Evolution, Directionality in Development and Evolution, Function and Teleology