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Divine intervention Quote by Thomas Nagel

“Some form of natural teleology, a type of explanation whose intelligibility I briefly defended in the last chapter, would be an alternative to a miracle— either in the sense of a wildly improbable fluke or in the sense of a divine intervention in the natural order. The tendency for life to form…” quote by Thomas Nagel
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““Some form of natural teleology, a type of explanation whose intelligibility I briefly defended in the last chapter, would be an alternative to a miracle— either in the sense of a wildly improbable fluke or in the sense of a divine intervention in the natural order. The tendency for life to form may be a basic feature of the natural order, not explained by the nonteleological laws of physics and chemistry. This seems like an admissible conjecture given the available evidence. And once there are beings who can respond to value, the rather different teleology of intentional action becomes part of the historical picture , resulting in the creation of new value. The universe has become not only conscious and aware of itself but capable in some respects of choosing its path into the future—though all three, the consciousness, the knowledge, and the choice, are dispersed over a vast crowd of beings, acting both individually and collectively.””

Thomas Nagel

About This Quote

Source Book: Mind and Cosmos by Thomas Nagel, 2012

The quote suggests that life’s tendency to arise may be an inherent feature of the universe, offering a natural teleology that complements or replaces miraculous explanations, and that conscious beings can create new values and influence future directions.

In simple terms: Life may naturally arise and shape its own future.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the role of conscious agents in shaping reality.

Themes

philosophy science consciousness teleology value

Mood

thoughtful inquisitive speculative

Type

philosophical theoretical reflective

When to use this quote

  • research in astrobiology
  • ethical AI development
  • environmental policy
  • education on critical thinking
  • public discourse on science and religion

Key Concepts

natural teleology emergent properties intentional action collective agency

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can natural teleology be empirically distinguished from chance?
  • How does collective consciousness affect moral responsibility?
A Different Perspective

The claim relies on speculative reasoning without definitive empirical support.

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