I know “What is teleology” has been asked, but I really need an example so I can understand. Honestly, some of the answers on the other posts are still too complicated for me… so maybe explain like I’m a really dumb 5-year-old?
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Consider the idea that music “gets better over time.” When you study Western music history, you can have that sensation, because very old music sounds strange and rather plain, then increases in harmonic richness and sophistication. (I’m ignoring the 20th century for simplicity haha).
Looking back, it’s easy to believe that music evolved in a particular direction to “get better,” but it doesn’t really work that way. Newer music builds on older music, but there isn’t a fixed definition of “good” that it’s moving toward; that target is always moving for people and could have played out a number of different ways had the circumstances changed.
The idea that there’s an “ideal” that history is moving us toward is a teleological perspective.
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