What is the philosophical concept of 'telos' according to Aristotle?

• A. The purpose or end that every substance in the world aims to achieve
• B. The material composition of a thing
• C. The sensory experience of beauty
• D. The social value of art

Answer: (A)

Telos is the purpose or end toward which a thing is directed. In Aristotle’s teleology, every substance has a final cause—the reason for its existence and the goal it is meant to achieve. This end is realized when the thing fulfills its function in accordance with its nature. For example, an acorn’s telos is to grow into an oak, a task that follows the plant’s natural design. For humans, telos is linked to rational activity in line with virtue, culminating in flourishing (eudaimonia) as the highest end. So, telos captures the idea of why something exists and what it is ultimately aiming to become. The other options describe matter, sensory experience, or social value, which are not the end toward which a thing is directed in Aristotle’s framework.