Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-05T02:06:37.058Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Explanation and Teleology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2022

Larry Wright
Larry Wright*
Affiliation:
University of California, Riverside
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper develops and draws the consequences of an etiological analysis of goal-directedness modeled on one that functions centrally in Charles Taylor's work on action. The author first presents, criticizes, and modifies Taylor's formulation, and then shows his modified formulation accounts easily for much of the fine-structure of teleological concepts and conceptualizations. Throughout, the author is at pains to show that teleological explanations are orthodox from an empiricist's point of view: they require nothing novel methodologically.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 39 , Issue 2 , June 1972 , pp. 204 - 218
Copyright
Copyright © 1972 by The Philosophy of Science Association

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

†

The research for this project was carried out under a grant from the University of California Humanities Institute. This version of the paper has benefited significantly from suggestions and criticisms offered by the editors of Philosophy of Science.

References

REFERENCES

[1] Beckner, M. The Biological Way of Thought. New York: Columbia University Press, 1959.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[2] Beckner, M. “Function and Teleology.” Journal of the History of Biology 2 (1969).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[3] Braithwaite, R. Scientific Explanation. New York: Harper, 1960.Google Scholar
[4] Malcolm, N. “The Conceivability of Mechanism.” Philosophical Review 77 (1968).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[5] Nagel, E. The Structure of Science. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, Inc., 1961 (Chapter 12).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[6] Noble, D. “Charles Taylor on Teleological Explanation.” Analysis 27 (1967).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[7] Scheffler, I. “Thoughts on Teleology.” The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 9 (1959).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[8] Taylor, C. “Explaining Action.” Inquiry 13 (1970).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[9] Taylor, C. The Explanation of Behaviour. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1964.Google Scholar
[10] Wiener, N.; Rosenblueth, A.; and Bigelow, J. “Behavior, Purpose, and Teleology.” Philosophy of Science 10 (1943).Google Scholar
[11] Wright, L. “The Case Against Teleological Reductionism.” The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 19 (1968).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[12] Wright, L. “Functions,” (forthcoming).Google Scholar