[MD] Dawkins quotes RMP on religion.

[Krimel]

> [Krimel]
> So while I agree that the universe is purposeless I deny that we are.

[Platt]
Can you (or science) explain how a purposeless universe evolved purposeful 
entities?

I do not think the universe has a purpose because having as purpose involves
intention, it involves having a memory that allows reflection on past
experiences to guide behavior toward an imagined outcome. I do not think the
universe has intention or that kind of memory, or the ability to reflect or
imagination or anything of the kind. I think we have these capacities and
some of us are comfortable projecting ourselves onto the universe. I regard
this as folly and striving after the wind.

Asking how a purposeless universe can evolve purposeful creatures is no
different than asking how an entityless universe can evolve entities. We
don't need to ask how it 'could' when we can look to the evidence and see
how it did. Entities that have the ability to access memory and use it as a
guide to the future are more likely to pass along their genes.