In trying to decide whether teleology in the sciences is good, bad, or indifferent, philosophers have tended to focus on three sorts of cases. They are exemplified in these paradigms: (1) The function of the heart is to pump blood. (Call this a functional ascription) (2) The goal of the rat is to reach food at the end of the maze. (Goal-ascription) (3) Jones intends to retire early by working hard. (Intentionascription) These sorts of cases are sometimes confounded, but they should be clearly distinguished. In a rough-and-ready fashion, some important differences and connections can be described in the following way.