From ResearchID.org

Contents 1 Teleology 2 Teleomental realism 3 Telic 4 Theoretical Kind 5 Tractability 6 ResearchID.org Glossary

Teleology

Teleology is the supposition that there is design, purpose, a preconceived goal, directive principle, or finality in the works and processes of nature.

Teleomental realism

1. An epistemic construct which proposes that (1) there are real physical phenomena that appear to be the proximate or remote result of a real mental process, and (2) it is possible in principle for empirical evidence to be gathered for or against this claim. The minimal nature of teleomental realism allows for a wide range of possible intelligent causes, including directed panspermia, pantheism, theism, and panentheism.

A simple example: an inference from physical evidence that the design of living things resulted from an intelligent cause.

• See also: Fuller's hypothetical.

Telic

See 'Teleology' above.

Theoretical Kind

A posited place-holder, delineated by observed causal effects. If it's effects are unique, the theoretical kind is taken to be a unique kind, but presumably only in a "working" way.

Tractability

The necessary nature of an hypothesis such that through scientific and empirical means we can develop and test models of its "internal dynamics" -- that is, models that flesh-out the details of the structures postulated by the hypothesis.

• Strong scientific tractability -- when a hypothesis implies or strongly suggests a well-specified class of models for its internal dynamics or structure.
• Weak scientific tractability -- an hypothesis that is tractable but does not imply any well-specified class of models.

See also ID model classes.