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Teleology (Greek: telos: end, purpose) is the philosophical study of design, purpose, directive principle, or finality in nature or human creations. It is traditionally contrasted with philosophical naturalism, which views nature as lacking design or purpose. In opposition to this, teleology holds there is a final cause or purpose inherent in all beings. There are two types of such causes, intrinsic finality and extrinsic finality.
Historically, teleology may be identified with Aristotelianism and the scholastic tradition in philosophy, again, made central to speculative philosophy by Hegel. The rationale of teleology was explored in detail by Immanuel Kant in his Critique of Judgement. Friedrich Engels refuted teleology as pantheism or deism and defended Darwin's evolution theory.
In theology, "intelligent design" is a teleological argument for the existence of God. In bioethics, teleology is used to describe a utilitarian view that an action's ethical right or wrong is based on the balance of good or bad consequences.