Teleology

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/teleology

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the philosophical domain?Branch of metaphysics and causality concerned with purpose and final causes
2. What is the key distinction?Explains phenomena by their 'telos' (goal) rather than solely by efficient causes
3. What does the word "teleology" mean?Teleology means looking at the purpose or goal of something. It comes from Greek words meaning "end" and "reason." It asks why something exists, not just how it works.
4. Why do some people think that nature has its own goals?Some people believe that natural things, like an acorn, have a built‑in goal to become an oak tree. This idea says nature is directed toward certain ends, not just random events.

Teleology: The philosophical study of purpose, goals, and ends in nature and the universe.
Final Cause: The purpose or end for which something exists or happens, as distinct from its material, formal, or efficient causes.
Intrinsic Teleology: The view that natural objects possess inherent purposes or goals independent of human design or intention.
Extrinsic Teleology: The view that an object's purpose is assigned to it by an external agent, typically humans.