ENTELECHEIA. - From ἐντελές, “perfect, completed, finished”: ἐν “in,” “τῶος” “end,” ἔχει “I have.” A central concept in Aristotle, in whom it signifies the final perfection of being. Whereas act, from which it is not always clearly distinguished, denotes perfection simply, e. denotes the final actualization of perfection, adding the concept of realized dynamism. Antithetical to potency, which is imperfection and passivity, it expresses the final realization of potentiality. In this it approaches form, without being identified with II.
In close connection with Aristotelian finalism, it surpasses Democritean mechanism, in the final unity that gives value to the harmonious and unitary process of a finalistic, intrinsic, and essential character of every becoming being. In psychology, e. marks the concluding stage of Aristotle’s evolution, which he reached from the original Platonic dualism, through the intermediate stage of “endelecheia” (continuous self-moving). Leibniz (v.) attributed it
to his monads, because of their intrinsic finalistic development, understanding it as the dynamic activity of the monad itself. H. Driesch reduced it to the individual organic vital principle; in this sense it was understood and used by vitalism.
BBL.: Aristotle, Phys., III and VIII; Met., IX; De An., II; E. Bignone, L'Aristotele perduto e la formazione filosofica di Epicura, I, Firenze 1936, pp. 227-72; F. Nuvena, L'évolution de la psychologie d'Aristote, Lovanio 1948, pp. 60-78.