Autotelic-art for art’s sake

I discovered a new word yesterday.

“Autotelic”. It means having a purpose in and not apart from itself. It is an adjective.

“Autotelism” is the noun.

So, you might say something provides an autotelic experience.

In other words, doing something for the sake of doing it, not in anticipation of any specific outcome such as profit or notoriety or return, is an autotelic activity.

Van Gogh, having failed to sell a painting for over ten years, continuing to paint was engaged in an autotelic experience.

Art for art’s sake.

“Telos” is a Greek word meaning “an end”.

Writing these blog posts could be said to be an autotelic experience. I will write them regardless of whether anyone reads them or not.