[sensory refinement and metaphorical transformation as purpose. Then use modified Creative Process as milieu in which metaphorical senses operate -- i.e using meta-senses to harmonize withh The Way Things Work and thus commit right action appropriate to stage of sensory development.]
Doesn't it seem reasonable that theories and texts on human development would discuss the meaning or purpose of life? After all, why lay out psychological constructs about human existence and not even hint at why humans should bother going through all the motions? Not that writers on development should presume to provide answers to this most debatable subject. But they should address meaning and purpose so the reader can get a sense of the perspective of the writer and the "direction" his/her theory would lead. (Perhaps every book on the topic should have a Surgeon General's warning label, such as "This book contains secular humanism; ingesting this theory could cause existential leanings." Or perhaps a coded rating system: "This theory has been rated CF [Christian fundamentalist]; reader discretion is advised.")
So what perspective does this book take on What's-It-All-About? Since the theory contained here is committed to all that is inherent and natural, the answer is simple:
The purpose of life is to fulfill its natural design and progression.
Fine, but what does that mean? It means that each form of life, at each stage of its development, is urged to perfect its equipment, according to its design. Crystals (minerals are alive, aren't they?) are bound to the expression of a simple geometric design and progression. Plants must fulfill their geometry, too, plus a life cycle: growth, reproduction, and demise. Animals must fulfill their geometry and their life cycle, plus instinctive and learned behavior patterns. In all these cases, there is an imperative. Failure to do these things will jeopardize the individual and the species. Design and progression must be fulfilled.
For humans, fulfillment of design and progression likewise includes geometry, life cycle, and behavior patterns, plus an imperative toward mental, emotional, and spiritual development. All together, this imperative could be described as movement toward ever-increasing levels of self-awareness and self-efficacy; in short, it is the development of character.
How does this human fulfillment occur? Through senses. As a human develops keener and keener senses, the mental, emotional, and spiritual faculties increase and thus the human character is individuated and perfected.
What senses? There are all kinds, but they can be placed into two basic categories: gross and subtle:
(This topic will be discussed in more detail in a later discussion.)
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We have seen that randomness is only an illusion once design is known. In much the same way, chance is found to be an illusion when purpose is known. Of course, purpose could not reveal itself in an instant. It needs a set of skills to be able to articulate. This is the importance of child-rearing and education: to give each individual the emotional and intellectual tools to reveal personal purpose and discover how it fits in the social whole.
If this is true personally, it could well be true collectively. Putting design and purpose together, it would seem that there is a very intelligent order to things, and human beings ought to be in position to participate with a bit of that intelligence. One way to look at this is to borrow from Lovelock's Gaia Hypothesis.
Imagine the millions of cells comprising your body -- cells of the liver, the brain, the skin, etc. Each cell has a life purpose: to create energy, to maintain homeostasis (a balanced environment), and to replicate. Each organ in turn has a purpose, and it takes all of its cells working in harmony to fulfill that purpose. Then there is your entire body and personality. There is purpose there, which requires harmony among all the organs and their cells.
Now it seems that the planet earth has been maintaining a stable environment for life for many centuries -- homeostasis. This would indicate that the planet had the fine sensing mechanisms of a living being and that it was expressing purpose in maintaining and replicating life. Interestingly, scientists are finding that planet earth uses its life forms to fulfill this purpose. Termites, sea coral, green plants, as well as other living things rise and fall in population to balance the gases and climates around the globe. It is as if life forms were the cells and whole species were the organs of the planet. Everything -- and everyone -- has a role to play. Thoose of us creatures with the gift of intellect have a critical role.
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Seeing the enormity and complexity of life and its purposes, we may sense the importance of harmonizing with the natural life cycle, from conception to birth through maturity. But what would a truly natural progression of human life be? This is tantamount to asking, "What should human beings be thinking, feeling, and doing on this planet? What are they designed to do?" That may seem like more of a philosophical question than a developmental one, but using natural design, natural progression, and our own sense of unfolding purpose, we are very well equipped to answer. In fact, we may be the best equipped to answer.