What I have tried to show is that the scientific attitude implies

Host: The room was quiet, the light from the window casting soft shadows on the floor as the evening began to settle. Jeeny sat at the table, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of a notebook, lost in thought. Jack stood near the window, his gaze fixed on the city below, his mind clearly absorbed in something deeper. Finally, Jack spoke, his voice calm, almost analytical.

Jack: (his voice reflective) "What I have tried to show is that the scientific attitude implies what I call the postulate of objectivity — that is to say, the fundamental postulate that there is no plan, that there is no intention in the universe."

Jeeny: (looking up, her voice gentle, but with curiosity) "That’s a thought-provoking idea, isn’t it? The idea that the universe doesn’t operate according to some grand plan or intention, but simply follows natural laws and processes. It challenges the notion that everything happens for a reason, instead suggesting that things unfold without any preordained purpose."

Jack: (nodding slowly, his tone thoughtful) "Exactly. It’s a view of the world that sees events and phenomena as the result of chance and necessity, not guided by some external or divine force. It removes the concept of intention from the equation, focusing purely on the natural processes that shape existence."

Jeeny: (her voice calm, almost with a sense of understanding) "It’s a perspective that takes the weight off of meaning, in a way. If there’s no grand plan, then things are not happening for a reason that’s bigger than ourselves. We’re not part of some cosmic blueprint; we’re simply part of the natural world, subject to the same laws and randomness that govern everything else."

Jack: (his expression reflective, his voice quieter) "And yet, even in that view, there’s a sense of freedom, isn’t there? Without a plan, we’re not bound by a fixed purpose or destiny. We have the agency to create meaning, to find purpose in our own lives, rather than having it dictated by forces beyond our control."

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice reassuring) "Yes, it’s both liberating and humbling. To think that we’re not tied to some grand design means that we’re free to shape our own path, to make choices without the pressure of fulfilling a predetermined role. But it also means that we are responsible for finding our own purpose, creating our own meaning in a universe that simply exists without intention."

Jack: (his voice gentler, almost with a sense of clarity) "It’s a more individualistic view, but it’s also one that requires us to take ownership of our lives. If there’s no higher plan, then we have to be the ones to decide how to live, how to make sense of the world, and how to find purpose in our actions."

Jeeny: (smiling softly, her voice calm but insightful) "Exactly. It’s about embracing that freedom, even if it feels daunting at times. Without a fixed purpose, we get to create our own, based on our experiences, our values, and what we choose to pursue. It’s the ultimate opportunity to define what matters to us."

Host: The room felt lighter now, the weight of the conversation shifting into a shared understanding. Jack and Jeeny had uncovered a profound truth about perspective and agency — that in a universe without a predetermined plan, we are free to shape our own lives. The absence of a grand design doesn’t diminish our existence; rather, it empowers us to create meaning, purpose, and value in a world that operates without intention. The world outside continued its rhythm, but inside, there was a quiet recognition that the freedom to define our lives is both a responsibility and a gift.