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Updated: Dec 20, 2025

Generic Protocol for Optimization of Heterologous Protein Production Using Automated Microbioreactor Technology

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Published on: December 15, 2017

Teleological generics.

Joanna Korman¹, Sangeet Khemlani²

¹The MITRE Corporation, United States of America.

|May 25, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A new theory explains why we accept some purpose-based statements (teleological generics) but not others. It proposes that a "principled" connection between an object and its function, like cars and driving, is key.

Keywords:

Concepts Formal explanations Generics Principled connections Teleology

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Science
Philosophy of Mind
Linguistics

Background:

Generic statements about object functions, or teleological generics, are common (e.g., "cars are for driving").
However, some functional properties lead to unacceptable generics (e.g., "cars are for parking"), a distinction unexplained by current teleology theories.
Existing philosophical and psychological theories fail to account for the acceptability of teleological generics.

Purpose of the Study:

To test a theory proposing that "principled" connections between object kinds and properties license teleological generics.
To investigate the psychological basis for accepting or rejecting statements about object functions.
To provide a theoretical framework for understanding teleological thinking.

Main Methods:

Four experiments were conducted to test the theory's predictions regarding "principled" connections.
A regression analysis was employed to differentiate the proposed theory from alternative explanations.
The study analyzed the nature of mental representations linking object kinds to properties.

Main Results:

Experimental results corroborated the theory's predictions.
The analysis confirmed that "principled" connections, such as a car's primary purpose (driving), predict the acceptance of teleological generics.
Non-principled connections, like parking, did not yield acceptable generics, aligning with the theory.
Alternative accounts were ruled out by the regression analysis.

Conclusions:

The theory of "principled" connections successfully explains the acceptability of teleological generics.
This framework provides a foundation for a broader theory of teleological thought and reasoning.
Understanding the nature of mental representations is crucial for explaining functional generalizations.