Dysteleology
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Dysteleology is the philosophical view that existence has no telos or final cause from purposeful design. The term "dysteleology" is a modern word invented and popularized by Haeckel. Dysteleology is an aggressive, yet optimistic, form of science-oriented atheism originally perhaps associated with Ernst Haeckel and his followers, but now perhaps more associated with the type of atheism of Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, or Christopher Hitchens. Western philosophy since Copernicus has been increasingly dysteleological. Unlike traditional philosophical and religious perspectives, modern philosophical naturalism sees existence as having no inherent goal. Philosophical schools that have rejected dysteleology include German idealism (including the philosophies of Hegel and Schelling), Integral theory, and some adherents to the Anthropic principle.
Dysteleology is also the name given to a line of reasoning within the philosophy of religion, which stands in opposition to the Teleological argument. It claims that the discord, pain and evil in the universe suggests that there is no God or creative force behind it, or that, if there is such a force, it is malevolent rather than benevolent.
See also
Topics specifically related to Haeckel's dysteleology
- Ernst Haeckel
- Darwin from orchids to variation
- History of evolutionary thought
- History of science
- World riddle
Topics related to general dysteleology
- Adevism
- Atheism
- Dysteleological argument
- Epistemology
- Existentialism
- Faith and rationality
- Kierkegaard
- Materialism
- Meaning of life
- Nietzsche
- Philosophy of religion
- Teleological argument
- Teleology
- Teleonomy
- Theism