Fig. 1

A schematic representation of the concept of ontological teleology. Ontological teleology explains the causal history of an explanandum (small dark grey circle), which is a structure or mechanism that has a function within an organism or ecosystem (bigger light grey circle). The small light grey circles represent other structures or mechanisms within the organism or ecosystem to which the explanandum makes a functional contribution (the functional contribution is represented by the grey arrows). Ontological teleology assumes that an explanandum came into existence because of its function within the organism or ecosystem. Some instances of ontological teleology do not specify how exactly the formation of the explanandum became directed towards the function, but other instances of ontological teleology attribute the striving towards function to the intention of a force that sets functionality as a goal