teleology

From Ancient Greek τέλος (télos, “purpose”) + λόγος (lógos, “word, speech, discourse”)

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈtiːl.iˌɒl.ə.dʒi/

teleology (countable and uncountable, plural teleologies)

1. (philosophy) The study of the purpose or design of natural occurrences.
2. (by extension) An instance of such a design or purpose, usually in natural phenomena.
   • 2011, Paul A. Rahe, Truths You Cannot Utter:

     In short, what every student of biology knows – that within nature there is a teleology having to do with the survival of the species which underpins the distinction between the two sexes and produces between them a natural affinity for one another – no surgeon who knows what is good for him may now say.

3. The use of a purpose or design rather than the laws of nature to explain an occurrence.

• teleologic
• teleological
• teleologically
• teleologist