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Can There be Purpose without a Purposer?
Does the universe display purpose in its creation and operation? Is it coherent to think of purpose, or its appearance, in the universe as natural and independent of any intention or will? A post by atheist-pantheist philosopher Benjamin Cain titled “Is God the All-Powerful Quantum Vacuum” prompted this response.
Many believe that science has been effective in removing purpose, intention, and will from the natural universe. Physicalism is defined in part as conceding no causes outside of the physical causes discoverable by science. While inexplicable in origin, the causes themselves display no thought, intention, or will. Randomness and purposelessness are core concepts of physicalism as most understand it.
The problem is that purpose keeps cropping up in science. Teleology is defined as the study of phenomena in terms of the purpose they serve. Language suggesting purpose has long been common in describing natural phenomena. The “appearance of design” in life is explained away by appeal to minute changes selected for fitness. Physical laws “create” the matter we experience as reality, even though the idea of creating something in our experience is related to personhood, intention, and the ability to turn ideas into reality.
Using language that refers to human intentional action to describe natural phenomena is…
