METAPHYSICAL CONCLUSIONS 365 



Givenness tends to prove the Absolute, the postulate of the 

 uniformity of nature relates to absoluteness itself. 



7. TELEOLOGY AND THE ABSOLUTE 



The Concept of a Limited Teleology once more 



We have said before that applying the category of 

 individuality or teleology to all Givenness forms at least an 

 unending task, and we have raised the question whether 

 the distribution of specific qualities of matter and of 

 specific geographical and geological formations on earth, or 

 the specific distribution of sidereal and planetary masses 

 might some day be found to have some purpose, either in 

 itself or at least for man. And we did not absolutely 

 deny that in history also some unity might be found in the 

 future. The problem of what we called a " limited ' 

 teleology now calls for some further elucidation in the first 

 place. 



How far into the Specific of immediate Givenness does 

 teleology possibly go ? Granted that there is purposefulness 

 at least of the statical or constellative type in the specific 

 distribution of matter and sidereal masses with regard to 

 the welfare of organisms : how far does this purposefulness 

 go ? Does it possibly extend to the most minute 

 singularities ? Then the whole universe would be one 

 teleological unity in every detail. Nay : then only would 

 it be " one universe " throughout. Only then would there 

 be no " contingency " whatever. 



But have we any reason to assume even granting a 

 good deal of supra-personal individuality that it is 

 purposeful in any sense of the word that a week ago it 



