Teleonomy
/ˌtɛliˈɒnəmi/noun
The apparent purposiveness or goal-directed organization of living systems produced by biological processes rather than conscious design.
Did you know?The term was coined in 1958 by biologist Colin S. Pittendrigh to distinguish scientifically explainable biological purpose from philosophical teleology.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*telh₂-
“To complete or bring to an end; the probable deep root behind Greek telos.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nem-
“To distribute, allot, or manage; the root behind Greek nomos, “custom” or “law.””
Ancient Greek
Greek
telos
“An end, completion, goal, or purpose.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
nomos
“A law, custom, convention, or rule.”
19th Century
Scientific English
teleology
“The study or explanation of things by reference to ends, purposes, or goals.”
1958
English
teleonomy
“A term introduced by Colin S. Pittendrigh for apparently purposive biological organization explainable by natural mechanisms.”
Modern English
English
teleonomy
“Goal-directed appearance in organisms arising through evolutionary and biological processes.”