Alice, who had not heard much about Mary Ann, said, “I wonder what my pussies, Kitty and Snowdrop, would say about such behavior. In any case, I think the only useful definition for purpose, is definition (3), a desired or intended end for an action, goal, or aim. And whether or not God is or God knows the purpose of the universe is not practically relevant. Clearly, everything we do must have a purpose and some meaning–at least to the human doing such.”

Caterpillar took a long puff from his hookah and blew another perfect smoke ring. He said, “Alice is quite right. Purposes are about starting an action for some reason–conscious or unconscious. In the physical world, events simply follow world lines in spacetime dependent upon earlier events. The universe is not purely deterministic, though events are guided by natural laws.”

“In fact, the standard history of the observable energy distribution of the universe teaches that the temporal flow of events depends upon natural laws, stochastic uncertainty (informational versus intrinsic–quantum mechanical), and chaotic unpredictability. Science easily explains the physical factors operating in a changing system over time and what function or purpose the system serves for itself locally or globally. Purposes are easily evidenced by observation of increased complexity of flora and fauna over evolutionary times.

“People performing goal-directed behavior, often confabulate, explaining why their bodies said or acted in a certain way. If you ask Rav, he will tell you about split-brain patients and the resultant two independent observers. Even before acting, all of us possess a purpose or reason for the why we will act, be it accurately or not.

“This is why, I posit, that complex living system from single cells to mankind, mechanical systems, and any other system you can imagine, is by definition, purposeful, as long as there is some benefit to the end state, actual or rationalized. In fact, the very expansion of the physical universe over time and the resultant cooling is the primary reason why anything is.

“So the question, does the universe have a purpose, must be answered in the affirmative. If most everything in the universe possesses a purpose, then, as a Totality, the universe must be purposeful.

“Therefore, the only Wonderland definition which is useful is definition (3), as stated by dear Alice,” finished Caterpillar.

“If I may continue, purposely, friend Caterpillar, I want to introduce the question of ‘meaningfulness’ in the universe locally and globally. Purpose is best used to describe changes in a system operating under defined natural laws, whether or not the end state is easily predictable. However, use of the world purpose should be restricted to objective statements only.

“Meaningfulness is best understood, as ‘observable changes in a system, operating under natural laws, which the observer feels possesses value and significance.’ In other words, a meaningful happening occurs whenever a purposeful event is deemed to possess a hidden or special significance to the observer and society, i.e., the event is endowed with psychoistic value.

“And the word, value, denotes to an observer that a purposeful process has worth, merit, importance, and significance. Of the words mentioned, worth is the closest to what I understand this word to denote. Worth implies material, spiritual, philosophical, and psychoistic value.

“Worth may be inherent in the observed process or it can be grafted unconsciously onto a process to satisfy a psychoistic need or desire. For instance, bringing a child into the world may be no more than process for one individual. Another sees deep meaning in child bearing, as it allows God to bring another soul into the world. I am sure you can come up with a near unlimited number of examples where human beings ascribe and endow a natural process with value and meaning.

“The human tendency to graft or endow values and personal meanings to physical and psychoistic events are an advantageous adaptation for finding security and rationality. Therefore, just as purpose is associated with every physical process; meaningfulness is associated with our subjective response to such processes. Of the two, meaningfulness is what affects us the most strongly as cognitive-affective creatures.

“So by extension of the Hermetic Law of Correspondence, we might surmise that God perceives inherent value and worth in the universe. I use the phrase ‘inherent worth and value’ as nothing about God is subjective. But, I doubt we will ever know the answer, but it does not matter.”

Cheshire Cat stopped and looked around. He said, “That’s all the wisdom fit to give today. I am rather late for a most important date, a date with Mary Ann.” And with that, the Cat vanished into thin air.