Teleology /
Teleology is about functions, ends and goals in nature. This Element offers a philosophical examination of these phenomena and aims to reinstate teleology as a core part of the metaphysics of science. It starts with a critical analysis of three theories of function and argues that functions ultimate...
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge ; New York :
Cambridge University Press,
2024.
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| Series: | Cambridge elements. Elements in metaphysics.
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| Subjects: |
| Summary: | Teleology is about functions, ends and goals in nature. This Element offers a philosophical examination of these phenomena and aims to reinstate teleology as a core part of the metaphysics of science. It starts with a critical analysis of three theories of function and argues that functions ultimately depend on goals. A metaphysical investigation of goal-directedness is then undertaken. After arguing against reductive approaches to goal-directedness, the Element develops a new theory which grounds many cases of goal-directedness in the metaphysics of powers. According to this theory, teleological properties are genuine, irreducible features of the world. |
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| Physical Description: | 74 pages ; 24 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages [64]-74). |
| ISBN: | 9781009500326 1009500325 9781009257398 1009257390 |