teleology
noun /ˌtiːliˈɒlədʒi/
/ˌtiːliˈɑːlədʒi/
[uncountable, singular] (philosophy- the theory that events and developments are meant to achieve a purpose and happen because of that
目的论(认为事物的发生和发展都是为了达到一定目的) 词源mid 18th cent. (denoting the branch of philosophy that deals with ends or final causes): from modern Latin teleologia, from Greek telos ‘end’ + -logia (see -logy).