title: On the debate about teleology in biology: the notion of "teleological obstacle".
abstract: Among the epistemological obstacles described by Gaston Bachelard, we contend that unitary and pragmatic knowledge is correlated to the teleological categories of Ernst Mayr and is the basis for prevailing debate on the notion of "function" in biology. Given the proximity of the aspects highlighted by these authors, we propose to associate the role of teleological thinking in biology and the notion of unitary and pragmatic knowledge as an obstacle to scientific knowledge. Thus, teleological thinking persists acting as an epistemological obstacle in biology, according to Bachelardian terminology. Our investigation led us to formulate the "teleological obstacle," which we consider important for the future of biology and possibly other sciences.
authors: Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brasil, ribeiro@vm.uff.br.
authors: Manuel Gustavo Leitão
authors: MG
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil, arianelarentis@fiocruz.br.
authors: Ariane Leites
authors: AL
authors: Larentis
authors: Laboratório de Microscopia Aplicada às Ciências da Vida/Inmetro, Duque de Caxias, RJ, Brasil, layres-pronametro@inmetro.gov.br.
authors: Lúcio Ayres
authors: LA
authors: Caldas
authors: Fundação de Apoio à Escola Técnica do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil, tomas_lastro@yahoo.com.br.
authors: Tomás Coelho
authors: TC
authors: Garcia
authors: Secretaria de Estado de Educação, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil, letlabati@gmail.com.
authors: Letícia Labati
authors: LL
authors: Terra
authors: Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil, herbst@ufrrj.br.
authors: Marcelo Hawrylak
authors: MH
authors: Herbst
authors: Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil, volcan@iq.ufrj.br.
authors: Rodrigo Volcan
authors: RV
authors: Almeida
mesh_terms: D001695:Biology; D010684:Philosophy; D012586:Science