Evolution News asks if there’s a way to bring back Aristotle’s PURPOSE in a scientific and testable way.

Easy. Negative feedback.  A loop always has a goal variable.

Loops are observable in action, and the simpler loops can be seen physically as neural pathways or mechanical or hydraulic systems in the organism.

Inanimate objects can be used by living things as tools for living purposes, but sticks and stones are merely incorporated in the loop by an intelligent bird or mammal. Stones don’t have feedback loops, so they are not purposeful creatures. Only living things have feedback loops, and each living thing has an essentially infinite number of loops. More complex critters are constantly setting up new loops of senses and muscles to accomplish newly needed tasks.

LIFE IS PURPOSE.