Teleology
<p><b>Teleology</b> or <b>finality</b><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup> is a reason or explanation for something in function of its end, purpose or goal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology#cite_note-3">[3]</a></sup> It is derived from two Greek words: telos (end, goal, purpose) and logos (reason, explanation). A purpose that is imposed by a human use, such as that of a fork, is called <i>extrinsic</i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology#cite_note-4">[4]</a></sup> Natural teleology, common in <a title="Classical philosophy" class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_philosophy">classical philosophy</a> but controversial today,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology#cite_note-5">[5]</a></sup> contends that natural entities also have <i>intrinsic</i> purposes, irrespective of human use or opinion. For instance, Aristotle claimed that an acorn's intrinsic <i><a title="Telos (philosophy)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telos_(philosophy)">telos</a></i> is to become a fully grown oak tree.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology#cite_note-6">[6]</a></sup>
Though ancient atomists rejected the notion of natural teleology, teleological accounts of non-personal or non-human nature were explored and often endorsed in ancient and medieval philosophies, but fell into disfavor during the modern era (1600–1900). In the late 18th century, <a title="Immanuel Kant" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel_Kant">Immanuel Kant</a> used the concept of telos as a regulative principle in his <i><a title="Critique of Judgment" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critique_of_Judgment">Critique of Judgment</a></i>. Teleology was also fundamental to the speculative philosophy of <a title="Georg Hegel" class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Hegel">Georg Hegel</a>.
Contemporary philosophers and scientists are still discussing whether teleological talk is useful or accurate in doing modern philosophy and science. For instance, in 2012, <a title="Thomas Nagel" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Nagel">Thomas Nagel</a> proposed a non-Darwinian account of evolution that incorporates impersonal, natural teleological laws to explain the existence of life, <a title="Consciousness" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consciousness">consciousness</a>, <a title="Rationality" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationality">rationality</a>, and objective value.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology#cite_note-7">[7]</a></sup></p>