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Teleology: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Teleology noun. Explaining things by the purpose or end they serve rather than by their causes.
How to say it
tel-ee-OL-uh-jee/ˌtɛlɪˈɒlədʒi/
5 syllables, stressed on the third (OL). Forms: teleological.
Teleology in a sentence
Saying giraffes grew long necks in order to reach leaves is teleology, which biologists avoid.
The historian rejected any teleology that made the past a march towards the present.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- purposiveness
- finalism
Where teleology comes from
Coined in Latin as teleologia by Christian Wolff in 1728, from Greek telos, end or purpose.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The historian rejected any _____ that made the past a march towards the present.
- ontology
- teleology
- sophistry
Show the answer
teleology: The historian rejected any teleology that made the past a march towards the present.