Concepts View

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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

Topical Filter:
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, and the agency by which the goal is achieved, are imparted to a system from without. 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)

Topical Filter:
Adaptation and Adaptationism, 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, 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, Teleology, Teleology (External, or Extrinsic), Teleonomy

Topical Filter:
Causation in Development and Evolution, Directionality in Development and Evolution, Function and Teleology

Teleonomy

The quality of apparent goal-directedness, especially 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)

Topical Filter:
Causation in Development and Evolution, Directionality in Development and Evolution, Function and Teleology