In this paper I examine the connection between accounts of biological teleology and the biocentrist claim that all living beings have a good of their own. I first present the background for biocentrists’ appeal to biological teleology. Then I raise a problem of scope for teleology-based biocentrism and, drawing in part on recent work by Basl and Sandler, I discuss Taylor and Varner’s responses ...

This research presents a dual-perspective, or bipartite view of teleology (i.e . purpose) and uses it to criticize qualitative models of cardiovascular systems in a manner that highlights the relationships between circulatory topology, behavior and function . The Bipartite Teleology Model (BTM) attributes 'purposefulness' to both steady-state and regulatory behavior thereby providing a split-le...