Teleonomy

Teleonomy: the idea that organs have functions within the organism, that the organism itself has goals, and that the study of organisms and organs needs to be conducted with reference to these goals.

Source: What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in partnership with Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems: Oxford, 2004-11.