Keith

I always hear people say that such and such can be explained simply by what is required for survival. Does "nature" have a purpose, such as producing life, and insuring its survival?

Keith

Bob Stewart

Keith,

What then would 'nature's' purpose be in producing the things that, in fact, don't survive? The whole point is that there is no purpose to what 'nature' produces, isn't it?

Bob Stewart

excreationist

We have mutations every now and then, and mutations are more likely to be passed on if they help the species survive... If it causes the mutant to die then it wouldn't be passed on. (Something like that).

Life keeps on dying all the time, so nature hasn't done a very good job ensuring its survival. Even entire species would become extinct eventually... and perhaps all life will end eventually, depending on the fate of the universe. I think evolution ("survival of the fittest") is just a thing that happens... I don't think there is any plan - sometimes evolution leads to humans... sometimes it leads to billions of years of single-celled organisms (that still exist today)... though theistic evolutionists or pantheists, etc, would think there is a plan involved.

Theli

Yes, bringing purpose into the question seems to suggest that there is a conscious choice behind nature's drive for survival.
It would be like asking what purpose a rock have for rolling down the hill.

Jayhawker Soule

No.

Keith

Then why did nature "choose" to make life-forms at all?

Keith

Keith

If nature has no plan or purpose, why did nature decide to make anything that is living and complicated? Was nature compelled to do this by something outside itself?

Keith

Keith

If the natural world isn't totally random and unpredictable, it would be at least be reasonable to ask what caused a rock to begin rolling down the hill, no?

Keith

Keith

How can you be sure of this?

Keith

Amos

Does nature need a mind of some sort to decide?

If it doesn't have a mind who is it that is making all these decisions here?