Description
Book SynopsisThe notions of purpose, goal, end and function are used (and abused) in descriptions of a very wide range of human, animal and machine behaviour. Andrew Woodfield provides here a unified account of such teleological descriptions and explanations, their varieties, their logical structure and their proper uses.
Table of ContentsPreface; Part I. Introduction: what is teleology?; 2. The method of analysis; Part II. Goal-Directed Behaviour: 3. Braithwaite's plasticity theory; 4. Sommerhoff's theory of directive correlation; 5. Charles Taylor's conception to teleology; 6. General assessment of behaviourist theories; Part III. Functions: 7. Functions and ends; 8. Ends and functional explanations; Part IV. Goals: 9. An externalist theory of goals; 10. Internalist theories; 11. The cybernetical approach; Part V. Conclusion: 12. Unifying theory of teleological description; Select bibliography; Index.
