PHIL 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Intentionality, Teleology
30 Jul 2020
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An objection to the outlined scheme is of particular concern to us. These are the dualistic features unthinkable in the argument that aims at a hypothetical metaphysical isolation of the human being in view of the proposed teleological ontology. From this perspective, human behavior would be governed by laws teleologically, while the rest of nature would be governed by laws mechanistically. However, the question of the validity of explanation from purpose concerns what resembles human and non-human animal behavior. Therefore, regardless of what can be proven in this area, the truth is that when speaking of "action" and "desire" in the case of non-human animals, they differ radically from inanimate nature. Descartes, for example, believed that nonhuman animals were complex machines. If we reject these doctrines, however, we are compelled to justify a strong demarcation between humans and nonhumans. In our daily use, we refer to animals as agents and wish-bearers.
