Teleology and the Concepts of Causation

Abstract

The paper suggests that the main disagreement about teleology is due to an ambiguity of the term and that one of the notions it covers is scientifically acceptable. The conceptual dichotomy goes back to Aristotle, whose categorization of 'causes' is discussed. Experiential finality is separated from metaphysical teleology, and shown to be derived from the notion of 'efficient cause'. Its use and interpretation in cybernetics is briefly sketched out.