Carving teleology at its joints

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DAVOODY BENI M., Friston K.

Synthese, vol.204, no.1, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 204 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11229-024-04660-6
  • Journal Name: Synthese
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, Periodicals Index Online, Index Islamicus, Linguistic Bibliography, Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Philosopher's Index, zbMATH, DIALNET
  • Keywords: Agency, Free energy principle, Goal-directedness, Teleology, Teleonomy
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This paper addresses the conceptualisation and measurement of goal-directedness. Drawing inspiration from Ernst Mayr’s demarcation between multiple meanings of teleology, we propose a refined approach that delineates different kinds of teleology/teleonomy based on the temporal depth of generative models of self-organising systems that evince free energy minimisation.