Recognize

Recognize

1. Teleology

   • Teleology, (from Greek telos, “end,” and logos, “reason”), explanation by reference to some purpose, end, goal, or function. Traditionally, it was also described as final causality, in contrast with explanation solely in terms of efficient causes (the origin of a change or a state of rest in something). Human conduct, insofar as it is rational, is generally explained with reference to ends or goals pursued or alleged to be pursued, and humans have often understood the behavior of other things in nature on the basis of that analogy, either as of themselves pursuing ends or goals or as designed to fulfill a purpose devised by a mind that transcends nature.
     • The most-celebrated account of teleology was that given by Aristotle when he declared that a full explanation of anything must consider its final cause as well as its efficient, material, and formal causes (the latter two being the stuff out of which a thing is made and the form or pattern of a thing, respectively).

2. Ontology

   • It is the study of reality or existence or just the nature of being. The study of ontology along with delving into the fundamentals of being, is also concerned with the classification of the entities of universe. The researchers or philosophers from the Platonic school make the concept quite easy to understand or at least make it appear easy.
     • According to the followers of Plato, the entities of the world are those referred to by means of ‘nouns’. Those who don’t follow the Platonic definition of being state that it is not possible to understand the concept clearly by just studying about ‘nouns’. The state of being also relates to events and thoughts. For example, the mind, according to these thinkers is not just an entity, but a collection of mental events.

3. Cosmology

   • The study of the totality of all phenomena of the universe comes under cosmology. This concept should not be confused with that of physical cosmology; the science of physical cosmology studies the origin of the universe, which is a different subject altogether.
     • As per the Zoroastrian theories, cosmological dualism governs the forces of universe. According to Zoroastrians, there are two God forces responsible for controlling the phenomena of universe. Another school of thought in the study of metaphysics is that of Jain scholars. According to Jain scholars, the seven tattvas (principles) lay the foundation of study of metaphysics.