Autotelic

The term autotelic ( gr αὐτός cars, " self " and τέλος Telos "target" ) is in the sense of " an end in itself ( - haftigkeit ) " or " independence " is used.

The typical use in the context of philosophical action theory states that an action has no purpose other than itself, that is the cause and final intrinsically motivated. An antonym is " Heterotelie " ( subordination to a foreign purpose), such as explicitly Wilhelm Traugott Krug.

An autotelic in the sense of Selbstzweckhaftigkeit had assumed, for example, theorists of the 18th century in the context of aesthetics; Kant later speaks of a " disinterested pleasure ". Even Roman Jakobson speaks aesthetic texts to be not directed to any object other than itself and speaks here of Autoreferentialität ( self-reference ) and autotelic. Even in ethics, the term was used; such for instance as the principle of autotelic was the formulation of Kant's categorical imperative, as amended, never to use any time humanity as an end in itself, merely as a means, respectively described and formulated autonomy close an autotelic. In addition to the actions and intentions of individuals and social institutions autotelic can be attributed, provided that they serve no alien set purposes. Paul Natorp idealist social philosophy emphasizes the principles of liberality and Genossenschaftlichkeit and postulated an elevation of autonomy for autotelic will and finally of autopoiesis (self - efficacy ).