  The purpose of anything is defined by what it does. The purpose of a car for example is to provide transportation.  We know that the universe transforms substances. That is what it does so is its purpose. It does so by means of universal laws. The remaining question is why. We know the purpose of the universe but why does it transform substances.  Re: Conscience  There is a difference between purpose and function. The purpose (and function) of a car is to provide transportation, true. We know this because we know cars are designed by humans, for that purpose and function.  Does the heart have a purpose? One might say that the purpose of the heart is to pump blood, but this begs the question. It assumes what must be proved: that the heart was designed to pump blood, by some intelligent agent. The default, parsimonious explanation is the heart has a function only, not a purpose  -  Hume identified the design fallacy long before Darwin came along.  The idea that the universe has a purpose is wholly unsupported. If it does have a purpose, it must be creating empty, lifeless space, because that is what the universe mostly consists of.  Re: Conscience  There is a difference between purpose and function. The purpose (and function) of a car is to provide transportation, true. We know this because we know cars are designed by humans, for that purpose and function.  Does the heart have a purpose? One might say that the purpose of the heart is to pump blood, but this begs the question. It assumes what must be proved: that the heart was designed to pump blood, by some intelligent agent. The default, parsimonious explanation is the heart has a function only, not a purpose  -  Hume identified the design fallacy long before Darwin came along.  The idea that the universe has a purpose is wholly unsupported. If it does have a purpose, it must be creating empty, lifeless space, because that is what the universe mostly consists of.  