What is the Purpose?

[Lord Privy Seal]

They may be referring to specific ideas associated with atheism. One common atheist position is that all phenomena can be reduced to physical processes. Physical processes consist of causal chains that just are. It does not make sense to say they are directed toward desired ends.

This is a non sequitor. Physical processes which consist of causal chains that "just are" are only bereft of supernatural teleology imposed from outside of knowable reality. Your assertion ignores such things as emergent properties and systems. A bacterium is an integrated system of physical processes. I don't know of any version of theism which asserts that it must have a soul/spirit/astral body/whatever in addition to its constituent energy-matter. Yet, it is able to move itself to find food and avoid predators, and undergo mitoses in order to reproduce itself. It exhibits teleology, "about-ability" (within the limits of its perceptual abilities, it can recognize some objects as food and others as predators--those things are "about" eating, or the threat of being eaten, to the bacterium), intentionality, and so forth...all without a need for the involvement of magic or pixie dust.

And purposes are defined by reference to their desired ends.

Which means that an omnimax* monotheistic god cannot be the ultimate origin of purpose. An entity can only desire an end if it does not already possess it. It can only adopt a course of purposeful action if its capacities are limited, so that purposeful action is necessary in the first place. By definition, an omnipotent entity can attain any end on the merest whim. An omniscient entity, again by definition, must know all possible ends it could ever intend to seek, in advance. Its omnipotence makes attainment automatic. It cannot fail, or even need to struggle in a quest for any goal. There is no need for it to "plan" or "take action" or "strive" or "desire." It is already standing on every conceivable finish line holding every trophy.

Instead, concepts like purpose, desire, intentionality, planning, and so forth are only applicable to living entities of limited abilities: entities like humans, animals, and microorganisms, for whom not attaining ends is possible. It is only when attainment of ends is not instant and automatic by definition that "attainment" as such becomes a thing. Likewise for the web of related concepts (purpose, end/goal, intention, plan, etc.).

Thus any form of atheism that denies teleology makes life a hollow gesture.

"Life" (as we know it, Jim), not gods, is the source and sphere of relevance for teleological concepts. They don't need to be imposed on life by magic (as if that idea even made sense). They are aspects of the nature of life.


*Possessing the set of "omni-" attributes, such as omnipotence, omniscience, etc..