Cybernetics and the philosophy of mind. - Kenneth M. Sayre. -
London; Routledge and Kegan Paul [etc.], 1976.
Though that was a UK publication, the author is/was a US
professor of philosophy, at Notre Dame.
>>>Now applying that to all life in the universe, the real effect is
>>>the high end of the complexity spectrum we observe in the
organization
>>>of matter and energy, including human consciousness and civilization.
>>>The intended effect of life seems to be more life, more complexity;
>>>as far as I can tell, if life has a purpose it is to animate
(literally
>>>"breathe life into" the universe). Catch phrase: universal animation.
>>
>>Umm, couldn't this be reduced to: the meaning of life is life?
>
>Not really, because you simplified away the temporal aspect which
>renders the statement untrue. I guess it could be reduced to
>the meaning of all future life is all previous life.
I tend not to believe in purpose at any level other than that
of the individual, but I guess it could be a useful metaphor,
to capture what is *in effect* more than blind chance.
Robin