Telos
Telos is the completed state a thing is developing toward — what it is trying to become when nothing gets in the way.
Full definition of Telos →:: COMPARE ::
TelosvsPurpose
The short answer
'Purpose' implies a purposer — somebody who assigned it. Telos in its Aristotelian sense implies the opposite: a directedness internal to the thing itself. Which is exactly why the term survives in biology, where 'purpose' would be unacceptable and 'function' has to do similar work.
Side by side
| Aspect | Telos | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Assigned by | Nobody — internal | Someone |
| Implies design | No | Usually |
| Is reached at | Full functioning | Completion |
| Survives in biology | Yes | No |
What each one means
Purpose
The contrast above sets out how Purpose differs from Telos on the points that actually matter.