The class of spontaneous processes which are embodied
in an object. A natural process has an 'inherent' teleology without having a true
intentionality.
Problem: What about processes which are neither actions nor functions?
For example: injury, poisoning, or (natural, but not biological) phenomena.
1. A geological phenomenon such as erosion or a (naturally) rolling stone
may seem inappropriately called 'function', since a natural and not biological
occurrent is hardly perceived as involved in a system. On the other
hand, from an ecological viewpoint, any natural occurrent is part of
a contextualized system. Moreover, a geological occurrent would be
classified as a 'geological-function'.
2. Injuries and poisoning are functions as well, only they are not naturally
occurring. This is one of the reasons why naturalness is not a primary criterion
in our ontologies. See also Searle for the position that functions are not
natural at all, since they are attributed by our epistemic views.