Telos Belief
Believed humans fulfill their purpose through reason and virtue
Aristotle
Emphasized social order, family continuity, and producing heirs to maintain ma’at (cosmic order).
Ptahhotep
To remember and serve God, live honestly, and help others.
Christianity
Taught that humans should live according to nature’s purpose.
Zeno of Citium
Moral philosophy stresses marriage, children, and family as central to a meaningful life.
Author(s) of the Instructions of Ani
o end suffering by gaining wisdom, ethical living, and mental discipline, ultimately reaching enlightenment
Buddhism
Combined Aristotle’s telos with Christian theology
Thomas Aquinas
Reinforced that continuing the family line was a fundamental ethical duty; failing to do so was morally wrong.
Mencius (Mengzi)
to create harmony by practicing moral behavior, respecting relationships, and fulfilling one’s social duties.
Confucianism
Argued that the universe operates toward purposeful ends
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
Argued that reproduction is a natural law purpose of humans, essential to the common good.
Thomas Aquinas
living in balance with nature, honoring spirits and ancestors, and maintaining harmony within the community.
Indigenous / Animist Religions
Believed humans are meant to perfect themselves through reason and choice
Giovanni Pico della Mirandola
Argued that producing heirs was a moral obligation tied to filial piety and ancestor worship.
Confucius (Kong Fuzi)
to live in harmony with the Tao (the natural way) by practicing simplicity, balance, and non-force.
Taoism (Daoism)