Purpose and design (Evolution)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Wednesday, April 26, 2017, 13:57 (2549 days ago) @ dhw

dhw: All forms of life fulfil a role in “keeping the Earth alive”. I don’t think anyone on this planet would disagree. That has nothing whatsoever to do with your anthropocentric interpretation of evolution.
DAVID: I was applauding: "does fall into the larger category of benefiting humanity specifically and all life in general." Nothing more. It does not support my anthropocentric thesis by itself. See my entry on fine tuning: Tuesday, April 25, 2017, 14:59

It does not support your anthropocentric thesis at all. Nor does fine tuning, which supports the case for design, not for anthropocentrism.

DAVID: We are both trying to interpret Tony. I think He would accept the appearance of humans as a major purpose of God.
dhw: If God exists, I would also agree that the appearance of humans is A major purpose. But I do not agree that it is THE one and only purpose and everything else, including the weaverbird’s nest, the jumping spider and the parasitic wasp, was personally designed by your God and was/is related to that one and only purpose.
DAVID: I don't expect you to agree. Everything we see is designed to produce life which resulted in humans. The result speaks for itself.

dhw: It also resulted in dinosaurs, which went extinct, and in the duckbilled platypus, which is still here, and in countless other life forms, lifestyles and natural wonders extinct and extant. If the result spoke for itself, there would be no disagreement. But perhaps you would clarify whether there is or is not a shift in your thinking. Do you now regard humans as A major purpose or as THE only purpose?

You ever wonder if some things, like the duckbilled platypus, are here to simply remind us how ignorant we are? I mean, it defies all classifications and yet we still cling to our classifications as if they actually have some meaning.

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What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.