# Optimisation Is Teleology

Optimisation = Teleology.

This is not an inclusion. This is an equal.

First of all, if you accept teleology then the purpose optimises
everything. So it obviously induces an optimisation.

Conversely:

An optimisation problem consists of two things.

1. The objective function
2. Constraints

An optimisation is literally just maximising or minimising the
objective function with given constraints. For example, you can
maximise your sleep while you don't miss out your schedules.

So as you can see, min/maximising the objective function works as
a purpose. And that's especially teleological if solving an
optimisation problem is not to optimise something, but to explain
and to induce the results.


A typical example is the principle of least time. It means that a
ray always follows the path which minimises the traveling time. It
is clearly an optimisation problem. And it is not about "how to
optimise", but about "why the results are true". So it induces
teleology. Similarily, the principle of least action is an optimisation
problem that is to explain the results.

Another example is economics. Surprisingly, economics uses Lagrangian
too!? Since economics assumes that people are rational, people
optimise everything. As a result, if you solve any optimisation
problem in economics, the solution will be the market equilibrium.
How magical! So in this case, everything happens to make market be
efficient.

The last example is linguistic economy. It means that people simplify
languages as long as it doesn't hurt clarity. It is an optimisation
problem in which the objective function is linguistic complexity
and the constraint is clarity. And it induces teleology. Every
linguistic event happens to simplify the language.


OK. But aren't there still optimisation problems that are about
how to optimise?

In fact, the difference between those two types is just points of
view. For example, you can think the maximising sleep problem
objectively. You can explain your actions as following the biological
purpose. Regardless of points of view, the optimisation problems
are mathematically the same.