There is no apparent purpose to evolution, other than the imperative to adapt, survive and procreate.
Most of the species that existed in the past are now extinct... five major extinction events that ended whole orders of species and numerous 'minor' die offs, ice ages, etc, since the end of the rule of the dinosaurs.
Three billion years of microbial life before multi cell organisms evolved during the Cambrian, prior to which the conditions were not suitable.
Life seeks a food source, a niche in the environment that presents itself, and adapts to these conditions. A species either thrives, ekes out a living, or does not adapt, natural selection, adaptive mutations, epigenetics, etc, to change and consequently dies out.
The overall history of life on Earth does not paint a picture of guided evolution or higher purpose.
The last ice age, for example, nearly ended the human race (according to research).
'Some scientists even believe that the human race's population may have fallen to just a few hundred individuals who managed to survive in one location.
Professor Curtis Marean, of the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University discovered ancient human artifacts in the isolated caves around an area known as Pinnacle Point, South Africa.
'Shortly after Homo sapiens first evolved, the harsh climate conditions nearly extinguished our species,' said Professor Marean.
'Recent finds suggest the small population that gave rise to all humans alive today survived by exploiting a unique combination of resources along the southern coast of Africa.'
