Teleology and Theology: The Cognitive Science of Teleology and the Aristotelian Virtues of Techne and Wisdom

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-13-2012

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Abstract

Recent research in cognitive science has shown that humans innately prefer teleological explanations. Children even go so far as to hypothesize the existence of a deity in order to justify teleological explanations. Aristotle also believed in the importance of teleology for human psychology. This paper investigates the convergence of ideas from the cognitive science of teleology with the Aristotelian understanding of teleology visible in the virtues of techne and wisdom. I argue that Aristotelian psychology and ethics is gaining empirical support, and that this could have important implications for science, philosophy, and theology.

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