teleonomy
/ˌtɛliˈɑnəmi/
noun
- The quality of appearing to be goal-directed or purposeful, especially in biological systems, without implying conscious intent.
- The concept of teleonomy is useful for describing how organisms adapt to their environments over time.
- In biology, teleonomy helps explain why certain behaviors seem designed to achieve a specific outcome.
- The teleonomy of a bird building a nest is driven by instinct, not a conscious plan.
Synonyms