Natural Teleology

Natural teleology is the idea that natural phenomena and living things have intrinsic purposes or goals built into their nature. It suggests that certain features or processes in nature exist because they serve specific functions, much like tools designed for a purpose. For example, the way trees grow leaves to produce food or animals develop senses to navigate their environment can be seen as nature’s way of fulfilling certain roles. This perspective views the natural world as organized around inherent goals, where objects and processes are directed toward fulfilling their natural functions.