Teleology
A
teleology is any philosophical account that holds that final causes exist in nature, meaning that — analogous to purposes found in human actions — nature inherently tends toward definite ends. Teleology was explored by Plato and Aristotle, by Saint Anselm during the 11th century AD, in the late 18th century by Immanuel Kant as a regulative principle in his
Critique of Judgment and by Carl Jung. It was fundamental to the speculative philosophy of Hegel. A thing, process, or action is teleological when it is for the sake of an end, i.e., a
telos or final cause. In general, it may be said that there are two types of final causes, which may be called intrinsic finality and extrinsic finality. ▪ A thing or action has an extrinsic finality when it is for the sake of something external to itself. In a way, people exhibit extrinsic finality when they seek the happiness of a child. If the external thing had not existed that action would not display finality. ▪ A thing or action has an intrinsic finality when it is for none other than its own sake.