生命科學中的許多科學說明訴諸目的論解釋,對此,主流的觀點趨向于一種歷史性探討,即尋找造成功能差異的演化機制以及控制這些程序逐代變化的規律。然而,這種途徑受到自然化目的論研究路徑的詰問。重新考查終極因,剖析目的闡釋的邏輯困惑,得到如下理解:"目的"概念是指邏輯上的優先性而非時間上的優先,它并不為存在提供必然性的原因,而是探求如何可能,強調有關可能事態的模態,并考察某一狀態產生某結果的傾向是否強化了機體再生產的趨勢;目的反映了"未來實現的事"對"既有事件"的約束。目的概念與因果說明之間具有不可還原的異質性,二者構成了不同視角的科學說明。目的的不可替代性體現出生物學在多大程度上具有其自身的科學基礎,因而不能被其他已有學科的科學哲學所支配。

Many explanations in life science resort to teleology.Mainstream opinion tends towards historical exploration;that is,it looks for evolutionary mechanisms that result in functional differences and for rules leading to generational variation.However,this approach has been questioned by the research trajectory of natural teleology.If we reexamine the final cause and analyze the logical puzzles of teleological interpretation,we find that the concept of"cause"refers to logical not temporal priority.It does not provide a necessary reason for existence,but rather explores how it is possible,stressing models relating to possible states and examining whether the tendency of particular states to produce particular results strengthens the reproductive tendency of organisms.The ultimate end or purpose reflects the constraint placed by events occurring in the future on existing events.The concept of end or purpose and cause-and-effect explanations have an irreducible heterogeneity;they constitute quite different scientific explanations.The non-substitutable nature of ultimate ends demonstrates the extent to which biology has its own scientific foundation and thus cannot be controlled by the scientific philosophies of other disciplines.