Category:Teleology

Te`le*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [gr. teleos, the end or issue + -logy: cf. F. Téléologie.]

Defn: the doctrine of the final causes of things; specif. (biol.),

Defn: the doctrine of design, which assumes that the phenomena of Organic life, particularly those of evolution, are explicable only by Purposive causes, and that they in no way admit of a mechanical Explanation or one based entirely on biological science; the doctrine Of adaptation to purpose.