An alternative to Optimism/Pessimism mindset: Does the universe have an underlying purpose?

You don't need to be a philosopher to have encountered these questions: <br>1. Optimism/Pessimism: Is the glass half-full or half-empty?<br>2. Purpose: Does the universe have an underlying purpose?<br><br>You don't need to be a philosopher to have realized that these two paradigms have captured everyone's attention. Philosophy is in everyone's brain - they're just unaware of it. In the case of these two questions, they have been very well discussed, among many other topics, in "the Story of Philosophy" by Bryan McGee.<br><br>Optimism has never made sense to me - we have something to be happy about, sure...but then tragedy hits. Pessimism is the opposite extreme. That said: Are they the only two options? I don't think so. <br><br>-"Why did this happen to me?"<br>-"Well, isn't the very fact that 'you' exist something to be proud of? You wouldn't even be able to complain about this if you didn't exist. You exist, and you have the capacity to argue against the very nature of your existence."<br><br>That leaves us with purpose. What is my purpose? Why is there a 'me' if the universe doesn't care about 'me'? Why care for a 'me' that will inevitably perish?<br><br>That's where God comes into the picture. <br>-"Who is this 'God' that makes claims about the universe?"<br><br>I don't care about God, or any religious institution for that matter. Instead...I'd like to explore the concept of the universe having an underlying purpose. Essentially, a Godless God, something that isn't omni-present or omnipotent.<br><br>The universe has an underlying purpose. This 'purpose' ensures that not a single proton or electron is wasted. The very fact that we can argue against the universe is proof that the universe ensures that not a single proton or electron is wasted. <br><br>So what's the purpose? <br>It's growth. Just like how plants grow from seeds, because the seeds are 'meant' to grow. That's the purpose. The process is the purpose.<br><br>And...if that's the case, then perhaps the universe is not made 'by' this purpose, but 'for' this purpose. We don't need a God, we have enough with a purpose, an underlying mechanism that drives the universe forward. The purpose drives the universe and us forward, to 'grow'.<br><br>Growing...not necessarily in an upwards or progressive direction. The forest is not growing upwards, it's reminding us that this world is in a state of constant flux and movement - and that's beautiful and fascinating.<br><br>There's no beginning or end. We don't need a creator, because this world has always existed. There's nothing 'before' the Big Bang, because the Big Bang is the beginning of time itself, which is an intrinsic 'property' of this world.<br><br>We're making progress-"growing"- and that's enough. We've never really understood the purpose of life. Life has a purpose...because it exists. We don't need a reason to live. That's enough reason to live...and to die. Both life and death are purposeful. Death ensures that the forest is not growing upwards. We grow, and in doing so, we perish.<br><br>That's what it means to be alive - growth, movement. We don't need a purpose to start living, to grow, to be alive. Living for its own sake is the purpose. Life is not a path to an end. We make our own path as we walk, and life is the walking itself, the growth itself-"to be alive".<br><br>I don't know if you agree. Perhaps life is different for you, and that's okay. Perhaps I'm just whistling in the dark. Perhaps there is no inherent purpose, and that thought itself is what's driving us to keep living.<br><br>But I don't want to give up. There's beauty in living-"in growing". You know that. It's...fascinating...at least, it is fascinating for me.