| Summary: | It is often assumed that direction and purpose in nature—teleology—is a dead relic of the past, a result of Charles Darwin’s <i>Origin of Species</i> (1859) and <i>Descent of Man</i> (1871). But teleology has had a long and complex relationship with science. This paper will trace its general history with an emphasis upon the life sciences, especially biology. Particularly important is the fact that all teleology is not equal; strong (transcendent) teleology (designated T<sub>s</sub>) should be distinguished from weak (purely descriptive and utilitarian) teleology (designated T<sub>w</sub>). A working definition of teleology in its most meaningful aspects is then given. The challenges that Darwinism faced in dealing with purpose in nature are discussed, as is their proposed solution in the evolutionary synthesis, and the persistence of T<sub>s</sub> following that synthesis is outlined and critiqued. Evidence of T<sub>s</sub> persistence in the life sciences is presented with several relevant examples, and strong teleology is further differentiated by specific (T<sub>s+</sub>) and nonspecific (T<sub>s−</sub>) varieties. This essay concludes that T<sub>s</sub> remains an ongoing and integral part of the life sciences and will likely remain so, even though it may be true but not verifiable empirically.
|
|---|