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Teleology
01
the study of purpose, design, and final causes in the natural world, exploring the idea that things have inherent goals or intentions
Example
The field of artificial intelligence ethics grapples with questions related to teleology, ethical goals, and the potential unintended consequences of AI systems.
In discussions about artificial intelligence, questions of teleology arise regarding the purpose and goals programmed into machines.
Evolutionary biology often explores the apparent teleology in the adaptations of living organisms, considering whether they result from intentional design.
Critics of teleology in biology argue that natural selection provides a sufficient explanation for the apparent purpose or design observed in living organisms.
The idea of teleology in nature was challenged by Enlightenment thinkers who sought to explain phenomena without resorting to divine purpose.
