Is there teleology in nature?

[PetraG]

Ah, but another characteristic of humans is that they tend to see things that aren’t there. They see patterns, and conspiracies, and connections where none actually exist. So while it may be that we humans might overlook the universe’s intended purpose, it’s at least as likely that we’ll see a purpose that isn’t actually there.

Knowing the human propensity for self-delusion, it’s wise to take any unsubstantiated claims with a grain of salt.

Precisely so. Just as we know many things go on and many things are set up in a certain way that we don’t understand, we also understand that we are primed by nature to look for patterns. We see patterns that are entirely imaginary all of the time, yes.

Exactly right. But I can only go where the evidence takes me. And note that I didn’t say ‘there is no purpose’. I said that I can see no purpose. And there’s been a lifetime of looking.

And I think that the best you can say is ‘there must be a purpose’. Because I don’t believe there is any evidence for it. Other than personal opinion.

I think one thing we must not do is to pretend to see what we honestly do not see. It is an act of faith to be willing to act as if something is so–for instance, to believe in someone even though we are skeptical about whether they are correct or not–but it is an act of deception to say you see what you don’t see. If you are trusting in someone else’s eyesight, that is fine, but it is important to admit that. I think it is important to defend that honesty.

Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”

Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains. (John 9:39-41)

How can being false serve the truth? Therefore, when we try to help others see whatever it is that we think we see, we have to avoid encouraging anyone to lie in order to satisfy us (or just to get us to shut up, LOL).