Welcome to MPF

The intent of this forum is to consider how thermodynamics (pure naturalism) can explain the “unseen order” that William James associates with our supreme good:

“Were one asked to characterize the life of religion in the broadest and most general terms possible, one might say that it consists of the belief that there is an unseen order, and that our supreme good lies in harmoniously adjusting ourselves thereto. This belief and this adjustment are the religious attitude in the soul.”
William James, Varieties of Religious Experience (1902)

The utility of such consideration depends on your starting position:

Atheists: Without giving up your purely scientific view of the world, you may find in Motive Power a useful framework to support ideas of larger meaning and purpose, in a systematic way. Ideally, you may find a source of the kind of inspiration which normally belongs to religious enthusiasts alone.

Religious folks: It may seem obvious to you that pure naturalists are missing the most important thing about the world, the divine order which makes us part of a profoundly meaningful process. That profound meaning is also obvious to me, but I believe it can be had without requiring any suspension of natural law. Depending on the scripture you follow, key lines should indicate that prophets through the ages have understood at least something about Motive Power.

Thanks for visiting.