Eschatology vs. Teleology — What's the Difference?

Eschatology (listen) is a part of theology concerned with the final events of history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity. This concept is commonly referred to as "the end of the world" or "end times".The word arises from the Greek ἔσχατος éschatos meaning "last" and -logy meaning "the study of", and first appeared in English around 1844.

Teleology (from τέλος, telos, 'end', 'aim', or 'goal,' and λόγος, logos, 'explanation' or 'reason') or finality is a reason or explanation for something as a function of its end, purpose, or goal, as opposed to as a function of its cause. A purpose that is imposed by a human use, such as the purpose of a fork to hold food, is called extrinsic.Natural teleology, common in classical philosophy, though controversial today, contends that natural entities also have intrinsic purposes, irrespective of human use or opinion.

The branch of theology that is concerned with the end of the world or of humankind.

The philosophical interpretation of natural phenomena as exhibiting purpose or design.

A belief or a doctrine concerning the ultimate or final things, such as death, the destiny of humanity, the Second Coming, or the Last Judgment.

The use of ultimate purpose or design as a means of explaining phenomena.

(countable) System of doctrines concerning final matters, such as death.

Belief in or the perception of purposeful development toward an end, as in history.

(uncountable) The study of the end times — the end of the world, notably in Christian and Islamic theology, the second coming of Christ, the Apocalypse, or the Last Judgment.

(philosophy) The study of the purpose or design of natural occurrences.

The doctrine of the last or final things, as death, judgment, and the events therewith connected.

(by extension) An instance of such a design or purpose, usually in natural phenomena.

The branch of theology that is concerned with such final things as death and judgment; heaven and hell; the end of the world

The use of a purpose or design rather than the laws of nature to explain an occurrence.

The doctrine of the final causes of things

(philosophy) a doctrine explaining phenomena by their ends or purposes