PHILOS 25A Lecture Notes - Lecture 31: Atomism, Immanence
Document Summary
Teleology has to do with the ends or goals of things. What is natural teleology: the claim that some natural things intrinsically tend toward goal-states. Typically, these goal-states are ontologically tied to them, i. e. the motions and processes of natural things tend towards the realization of the latter"s own natures (their essences). These essences (natures) of natural things determine what is good and bad for them. Aristotle does not think that every event that happens in nature happens for the sake of something. He only thinks this is the case for living things. Rather, they are things for the sake of which other things are done. For aristotle, natural goals are immanent to natural things. In natural science, teleological explanation does not extend outside of species. Aristotle"s defense of the final cause in nature: aristotle defends the claim that nature is among the causes that are for the sake of something" against the following anti-teleological argument:
