Quote:
Originally Posted by Hardball47
In this case I use it synonymously with 'purpose'.
Then I'm not sure what your objection is.
Since I've repeated twice that science is, roughly, 'the interconnection of all true statements'; and you haven't disagreed, I'll take that as common ground.
Then there are many scientific uses of 'purpose':
- The purpose of the peacock's tail is to attract mates. (Evolutionary biology.)
- The purpose of his comment was to avoid cognitive dissonance. (Intentional psychology.)
- The purpose of a microscope is to amplify images. (Engineering.)
And so forth. So if there
was a true statement:
- "_____ is the purpose of life."
then the 'purpose of life' would a scientific concept as well.
The problem is just that
nothing goes in the blank in a way that is obviously 'true'. So it's not that the 'purpose of life' is outside science; it's outside any particular meaning AT ALL.