autotelic
/ˌɔːtə(ʊ)ˈtɛlɪk
/adjective formal
(Of an activity or a creative work) having an end or purpose in itself.If the poem is an autotelic entity, an end-in-itself, then sound is more important....
- Stevens's autotelic and monological poem is not permitted to stand alone.
- Art's emancipation from its autotelic confinement reappropriates ‘the product of art [which] is the tool for the direct or indirect social action.’
Origin
Early 20th century: from auto-1 'self' + Greek telos 'end' + -ic.