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Teleology and teleonomy in behavior analysis.

The Behavior Analyst

|April 6, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Teleological and teleonomic concepts are not useful in behavior analysis. Purpose can be a useful concept if it is not reified, avoiding misleading explanations of behavior.

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Area of Science:

Behavioral science
Philosophy of science

Background:

Teleological explanations attribute purpose as a consequence of phenomena.
Teleonomic explanations attribute purpose as an antecedent, often linked to genetic programming.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the utility of teleological and teleonomic concepts in behavior analysis.
To clarify the role of purpose in understanding behavior.

Main Methods:

Conceptual analysis of teleology and teleonomy.
Examination of their application to behavior analysis, considering organismic history and traces (physiological or mental).

Main Results:

Teleological and teleonomic concepts are deemed not useful for behavior analysis.
Attributing purpose to an organism's history of consequences is antecedent, not teleological in the classical sense, but distinct from genetic programming.

Conclusions:

The terms teleology and teleonomy can be misleading in behavior analysis.
The concept of purpose is useful when not reified, avoiding conceptual pitfalls.