Can Existence be without Purpose?

If we begin with the (obvious) premise that we perceive that we exist, and then conclude (obviously) that we do exist, then the next question that must be asked is, is there a (cosmic) purpose for our existence?

While the premise and conclusion (listed above) are obvious (to most people), the next question seems not to have an obvious answer, particularly to physicalists.  To them, the perception of physical existence is proof enough that reality is physical, and only physical.  To the physicalist, everything is material, even perception—but can perception be explained as being purely physical?  Does not the very perception itself, of physical reality, suggest something of a higher order?

At its most extreme, the purely physicalist view is that physical nature exists without plan, purpose or meaning, and moreover, that it could exist just as it is, even if there were no conscious beings to perceive it.

To them, life is merely a chemical process, a sort of molecular chain reaction, a series of self-regenerating chemicals.  To them, life relies upon physical reality, but physical reality does not rely upon life, nor upon consciousness, nor upon any form of wilfull intent.

Consciousness (and conscious perception) poses a larger problem for physicalists, and they admit (generally) that they have not answered the question of what consciousness is—but they profess to be making progress toward producing a purely physical explanation for it.  (In fact, they will be able to produce such an explanation only if they define consciousness as being something other than our ineffable inward experience of it.)

Cosmic purpose involves an entirely higher level of perceived reality, encompassing something that is completely outside the thinking of physicalists.  Indeed, it involves something that is regarded as physically impossible:  the existence of an independent, sovereign, causative agent other than physical.

Yet, purpose is something we all experience in our daily life.  It involves having a desire for something, be it merely air, water and food; or be it comfort and pleasure; or be it prestige, intellectual satisfaction, or heaven.  Having desires, we set out to obtain the objectives.  In the course of doing that, we make plans and exert effort.  All of this encompasses a sense of purpose, be it base or lofty.

The personal experience of purpose is not, however, something easily attributed to physical nature, at least not within the physicalist framework.  Things just happen, they say.  One thing leads to another.  Cause and effect, and random chance, are all that is needed to explain every event.

Physicalists may assert that they find no evidence, no necessity for any objective purpose in nature.  Yet, such evidence abounds.  It is everywhere.  Its very abundance seems to make it invisible.  If it looks like a duck—you know the saying.  Occam’s Razor.  The universe seems to be intelligently designed, and the most direct explanation for that is, because it is.

This leads to the greatest and most vital question of all, is there a God?

The question of whether or not there is a God (specifically, as in the Torah) is for many people a purely emotional one, whether pro or con.  The true believer is devotedly unshakeable in his faith, but atheists can be just as attached to their disbelief, or perhaps, to their faith in reason.

The question is further encumbered by our inability to define God.  Any such so-called definition must include words such as, unknowable, essence, and transcendent.  It must include concepts such as absolute, ultimate and infinite.  The question cannot be surrounded by reason, nor by intellect, nor even by proof.

Why, then, even ask it?

The only recourse is to rely on divine revelation, a reliance which physicalists reject, and which others seek, but do not find.  However, if one begins with the proposition that life has plan, purpose and meaning—if we assert that life, consciousness and free will are at the core and foundation of nature—then one’s life can be fulfilling in a way that a physicalist world view can never impart.

We can never find God, but we can allow Him to find us.

In the end, each individual is free to choose for himself.  Perhaps that is our purpose.

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