Questions tagged [teleology]
35 questions
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Does science reject Aristotle's final cause?
To quote from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy:
Here Aristotle recognizes four types of things that can be given in answer to a why-question:
The material cause: “that out of which”, e.g., the bronze of a statue.
The formal cause: “the…
Jon 'links in bio' Ericson
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Does having a positive teleology require an entity that has intention exist?
One of the criticisms of Aristotle's final cause category is that if a thing has a purpose, there must exist some entity that has intention to set up that cause. Generally speaking, skeptical thinkers reject any sort of positive, universal…
Jon 'links in bio' Ericson
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The perverted faculty argument
There are a few philosophers who still push the “perverted faculty argument” to prove that contraception, homosexual acts and masturbation are immoral. This argument is based on classic natural law, which is itself based on a metaphysics that…
viuser
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Aristotle's middle point between teleological eliminativists and teleological intentionalists
I'm reading an introduction to Aristotle's theory of causation, Aristotle by Christopher Shields, and I understand that he says that Aristotle's view of final causes is between teleological eliminativists and teleological intentionalists.
So far so…
César D. Vázquez
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Are only human beings capable of rationally intentional acts?
Max Horkheimer's 1947 book The Eclipse of Reason argued that over the course of history, the conception of reason shifted from the objective - the Greek idea that reason qua logos governs the Cosmos - to the modern, instrumental concept of…
Wayfarer
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What is the difference between control exerted by an agent and causation?
I have my own thoughts about this. Am I on the right track or is there some real philosophy that defines the concept of control differently?
In a regular cause & effect scenario the cause determines the effect in two ways:
The cause provides the…
Pertti Ruismäki
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What is a "disorder"?
The is-ought gap makes it so we can not derive an ought from an is, correct? Without teleology, how can there be such a thing as a "disorder" or "disability"? The word "disorder" means that there's something "wrong" with the way something is. Nature…
ActualCry
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What philosopher regarded the end and purpose of human life to be in relationships with other individuals?
I remember in my undergrad being taught about some philosopher who regarded the whole end and purpose of human existence to be primarily that of relationship with other people. I dont remember if he used the word love, but it had the implication of…
Good Ol' Saint Nick
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Is the teleological argument for God completely refuted?
Teleological arguments for the existence of God have a long history and straddle Greek Antiquity (Platos Divine Artificer), Islam (Averroes) and Christianity (Aquinas) and currently and most famously the intelligent design movement in the…
Mozibur Ullah
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Moral nihilism & teleology
Can one be a moral nihilist and hold teleological beliefs at the same time? More specifically, can I be a moral nihilist, whilst also being a utilitarian? And further, is teleology a branch of moral nihilism?
Matthew Hul
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Can purpose be attributed to events without grounding in agency
As observers we observe events around us. All events have causes, either deterministic causes or non-deterministic ones. As observers however we can additionally attribute purpose (or meaning as in religious meaning) to events. We can declare one…
tkruse
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Good Introductions to Kants Critique of Judgment
Can somebody recommend any? I have come across Wicks & Hughes so far, but I am finding it very difficult. I am also finding it incredibly difficult reading through the Critique itself. Any advice on how to make things more pleasant?
I am mainly…
Ken Goldhaus
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What's the force of Leibniz' worry in "The Ultimate Origin of Things"?
In "The Ultimate Origin of Things," Leibniz' motivates his claim that
nothing in the world could be the ultimate reason for things
by asserting that
We can’t find in any
individual thing, or even in the entire collection and series of
…
Patrick Collins
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Bayesian reasoning regarding perceived unlikely outcomes
So this is a Bayesian question in words first and then I'll try to put a little mathematical meat on it. Admittedly, this will eventually be about teleological reasoning, but I would like you to just consider the thought experiment as it is…
robert bristow-johnson
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Is there teleology in (modern) science?
Teleology (the research of a phenomenon according to its "finality", its end-goal) is a subject that's often controversial (at least to my knowledge), and I'm not sure I've seen it in science (more specifically, natural science). Is there any…
Yechiam Weiss
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