I had a Swiss professor on my committee who would halt any discussion of evolutionary process if someone hinted at 'purpose' or 'intention'. He would pop up an

I had a Swiss professor on my committee who would halt any discussion of evolutionary process if someone hinted at 'purpose' or 'intention'. He would pop up and shout in a thick Swiss accent "noO!dis iz da fallacy uv teleology!"[1] He would never be assuaged with attempts to point out that such references are merely short-hands for longer, more precise, statements. But he consistently held the best post-presentation parties. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology