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DOI
10.4324/9780415249126-A134-1
DOI: 10.4324/9780415249126-A134-1
Version: v1,Published online: 2002
Retrieved December 16, 2023, from https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/thematic/telos/v-1
Article Summary
Telos is the ancient Greek term for an end, fulfilment, completion, goal or aim; it is the source of the modern word ‘teleology’. In Greek philosophy the term plays two important and interrelated roles, in ethics and in natural science; both are connected to the most common definitional account of the telos, according to which a telos is that for the sake of which something is done or occurs.
In ethical theory, each human action is taken to be directed towards some telos (i.e. end), and practical deliberation involves specifying the concrete steps needed to attain that telos. An agent’s life as a whole can also be understood as aimed at the attainment of the agent’s overall telos, here in the sense of their final end or summum bonum (‘highest good’), generally identified in antiquity as eudaimonia (happiness). Rival ancient ethical theories are distinguished primarily by their rival specifications of the end; the Epicurean telos is pleasure, the Stoic telos is life according to nature, and so on.
In the natural science of Aristotle, the telos of a member of a species is the complete and perfect state of that entity in which it can reproduce itself (so, insects reach their telos when they become adults). The telos of an organ or capacity is the function it plays in the organism as a whole, or what it is for the sake of; the telos of the eye is seeing. Carrying on the tradition of Anaxagoras and Plato, Aristotle centres his scientific methodology around the claim that there are ends in nature, i.e. that some natural phenomena occur for the sake of something; Galen and the Stoics enthusiastically second this; Epicurus rejects it.
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Citing this article:
Brennan, Tad. Telos, 2002, doi:10.4324/9780415249126-A134-1. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Taylor and Francis, https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/thematic/telos/v-1.
Copyright © 1998-2023 Routledge.
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As a seasoned scholar deeply entrenched in the realms of ancient Greek philosophy, my expertise spans the vast intellectual landscapes from the Platonic origins to the Hellenistic period. Having navigated the intricate corridors of philosophical thought, I am well-versed in the nuances of concepts that have shaped the foundations of human understanding.
Let's delve into the rich tapestry of the article, exploring the profound notion encapsulated by the term "telos." Telos, an ancient Greek term, embodies the essence of an end, fulfillment, completion, goal, or aim. Its resonance is not confined to mere linguistic significance; it is the very source from which the modern word 'teleology' emanates.
In the tapestry of Greek philosophy, telos assumes a dual role, intricately woven into the fabric of ethics and natural science. In ethical theory, every human action is perceived as a trajectory toward a specific telos, an end that propels practical deliberation. The holistic perspective extends to an individual's entire life, envisioned as a journey toward the realization of their overarching telos, often identified as eudaimonia, or happiness, in the ancient context.
This ethical landscape is not uniform; rather, it is marked by the diverse teloi proposed by rival ancient ethical theories. For the Epicureans, pleasure is the telos, while the Stoics advocate for a telos grounded in life according to nature.
Transitioning to the realm of natural science, the elucidation of telos finds its eloquent articulation in the work of Aristotle. Here, the telos of a member of a species is conceived as the pinnacle of its existence, where it achieves completeness and the capacity for reproduction. Aristotle extends this paradigm to organs and capacities, defining their telos as the specific function they fulfill within the organism. For instance, the telos of the eye is the act of seeing.
Crucially, Aristotle's scientific methodology revolves around the assertion that ends exist in nature—some natural phenomena occur with a purpose. This perspective aligns with the views of Anaxagoras and Plato, while finding enthusiastic support from figures like Galen and the Stoics. However, it encounters rejection from the Epicurean school.
In the grand tapestry of philosophical discourse, the concept of telos weaves together threads of ethical contemplation and scientific inquiry, offering a profound glimpse into the foundational ideas that have shaped the course of intellectual history. The thorough exploration of these themes in the referenced article by Tad Brennan serves as a testament to the enduring relevance and complexity of telos in the annals of philosophical thought.
