Teleology or the attributing of a purpose to a given phenomenon rather than its cause is considered a main distinctive difference bewtween the new, Gallilean and the old, Aristotelian, physics. However, there are some arguments that it is in fact subtly underlined even by Gallilean physics, not overthrown.

For example, since all phenomena in physics obey the principle of least action or shorter energy expenditure in tough terms which implies a purpose, modern hyporhetico devuctive or so paradigms hold not be considered so anti teleological after all.