teleology

[uncronopio]

From Wikipedia, it is the position that there is design, purpose, directive principle, or finality in the works and processes of nature, and the philosophical study of that purpose. Another definition in Principia cybernetica. Dysteleology would be the antonym.

I have been reading about systems theory and the word appears in some of the approaches used in the topic.

[gailr]

teleology

"study of final causes," 1740, from Mod.L. teleologia, coined 1728 by Ger. philosopher Baron Christian von Wolff (1679-1754) from Gk. teleos "entire, perfect, complete," prop. gen. of telos "end, goal, result;" see tele- + -logia.

The pie background for tele-:

To lift, support, weigh; with derivatives referring to measured weights and thence to money and payment.

Compare to teleology

NOUN: Inflected forms: pl. tel·e·ol·o·gies
1. The study of design or purpose in natural phenomena. 2. The use of ultimate purpose or design as a means of explaining phenomena. 3. Belief in or the perception of purposeful development toward an end, as in nature or history.

which gives kwel as the root:

Also kwel-. To revolve, move around, sojourn, dwell.

Is all our lexical research disteleological or teleological?
gailr

[tcward]

The pie background for tele-:

To lift, support, weigh; with derivatives referring to measured weights and thence to money and payment.

Brings new clarity to the term televangelist...

-Tim

[M. Henri Day]

... the position that there is design, purpose, directive principle, or finality in the works and processes of nature ...

A position inherent in «intelligent design» theories - if something is designed intelligently, this is presumably done for a purpose....

Henri