[ad. mod.L. teleologia (Chr. Wolf, 1728); f. Gr. τέλος end (see TELEO-2) + -λογια (see -LOGY), whence also Ger. teleologie, F. téléologie.]
The doctrine or study of ends or final causes, esp. as related to the evidences of design or purpose in nature; also transf. such design as exhibited in natural objects or phenomena.
[1728. Wolf, Logica, § 85. Datur … præter eas alia adhuc philosophiæ naturalis pars, que fines rerum explicat, nomina adhuc destituta, etsi amplissima sit et utilissima. Dici posset Teleologia.]
1740. Zollman (tr. fr. French), in Phil. Trans., XLI. 299. Teleology is one of those parts of Philosophy, in which there has been but little Progress made.
1807. Edin. Rev., X. 151. The subject of Teleology, or the doctrine of final causes, was one which occupied the thoughts of Le Sage.
1868. E. Buckland, in Bompas, Life, x. (1885), 224. This is the doctrine of Teleology: i.e. the doctrine that every organ is adapted to a special use.
1881. G. J. Romanes, in Nature, 27 Oct., 604/2. Teleology in this larger sense, or the doctrine that behind all the facts open to scientific enquiry … there is ‘Mind and Will’ as the ultimate cause of all things—does not fall within the scope of scientific method.
1893. H. Drummond, in Barrows, Parl. Relig., II. 1322. Darwin has not written a chapter that is not full of teleology.
1920. Marie T. Collins, Natural Law, II. i. 49. This objective meaning of teleology is brought out in the Greek term for ‘nature,’ which could as well be translated ‘growth’ or ‘evolution.’
