Misplaced Pages

Purpose (concept)

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by ZuluPapa5 (talk | contribs) at 02:04, 2 November 2011 (add Etymology). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 02:04, 2 November 2011 by ZuluPapa5 (talk | contribs) (add Etymology)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
This article appears to be a dictionary definition. Please rewrite it to present the subject from an encyclopedic point of view.

Purpose is a word meaning an object to be reached; a target; an aim; a goal; a result that is desired; an intention. Purpose's basic concept is an individual's voluntary behavior activity awareness. Defining purpose is often relatively vague and almost meaningless; however, the concept is valuable and therfore retained.

Etymology

First attested in c.1290, from earl Old French porpos "aim, intention", purpose is related to from porposer "to put forth," from Vulgar Latin corruption of por- "forth" (Latin pro- "forth") and Old French poser "to put, place". Purpose is related to the term pose used from 1374 as to "put in a certain position," or "suggest, propose, suppose, assume," a term use in Late Latin debating (c.300–c.700) from pausare "to halt, rest, pause".

Behavior classifications

In Arturo Rosenblueth's cybernetic classification, purpose is a behavior subclass. Behavior is active or passive and active behavior is purposeful or random. Active purposeful behavior is then either feedback teleological on non-teleological. Negative feedback is important to guide the positive goal route. Purposeful teleological feedback helps guide the predictive behavior orders. Teleology is feedback controlled purpose.

See also

This redirect has not been added to any content categories. Please help out by adding categories to it so that it can be listed with similar redirects. (November 2011)

References

  1. Rosenblueth, Arturo (Jan.,1943). "Behavior, Purpose and Teleology". Philosphy of Science. 10 (1): 19. JSTOR http://www.jstor.org/pss/184878. {{cite journal}}: Check |jstor= value (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |jstor= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. purpose, Online Etymological Dictionary
  3. pose, Online Etymological Dictionary
  4. Rosenblueth, Arturo (Jan.,1943). "Behavior, Purpose and Teleology". Philosphy of Science. 10 (1): 21. JSTOR http://www.jstor.org/pss/184878. {{cite journal}}: Check |jstor= value (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |jstor= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Category: