dysteleology

[ dis-tel-ee-ol-uh-jee, -tee-lee- ]

noun

1. Philosophy. a doctrine denying the existence of a final cause or purpose.
2. the assumed absence of purpose in life or nature.
3. the evasion or frustration of a natural or normal function or purpose.

dysteleology

/ ˌdɪstɛlɪˈɒlədʒɪ; -tiːlɪ- /

noun

1. philosophy the denial of purpose in life Compare teleology

Derived Forms

• ˌdysteleˈologist, noun
• dysˌteleoˈlogical, adjective

Other Words From

• dys·tel·e·o·log·i·cal [dis-tel-ee-, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l, -tee-lee-], adjective
• dystel·e·olo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dysteleology¹

1870–75; < German Dysteleologie; dys-, teleology

Example Sentences

Dysteleology, dis-tel-ē-ol′o-ji, n. the doctrine of purposelessness, or denial of 'final causes:' the study of apparently functionless rudimentary organs in animals and plants.—adj.

From Project Gutenberg

Häckel has given admirable discussions on this whole subject, under the title of Dysteleology, in his ‘Generelle Morphologie’ and ‘Schöpfungsgeschichte.’

From Project Gutenberg

Development of organic types, 146 Dicotyledons, appearance of, 220 Diderot—on evidence of intelligence in Nature, 125 Dinotherium, classification of, 259 n Dogs, their vocal expression of emotions, 73 Du Bois-Reymond, Herr,—on the "Seven Enigmas," 31-33; on the progress of human development, 68, 69; on Haeckel's genealogies, 264 Dysteleology, 190 Ear, structure of, 93 Electrons, 42 Elephant and Tortoise of Hindu astronomy, 107 Embryology and Evolution, 158-160, 192 seq.

From Project Gutenberg

Professor Haeckel has invented a new and convenient name, "Dysteleology," for the study of the "purposelessnesses" which are observable in living organisms—such as the multitudinous cases of rudimentary and apparently useless structures.

From Project Gutenberg

I confess, however, that it has often appeared to me that the facts of Dysteleology cut two ways.

From Project Gutenberg