Local Coherence in Global Entropy: A Thermodynamic Account of Consciousness and Purpose

This paper develops an account of purpose as an abstract regulatory phenomenon that emerges within complex physical systems capable of self-maintenance. In human systems, purpose is treated not as a teleological property or intrinsic goal, but as a high-level pattern that constrains behaviour in ways that promote coherence, persistence, and adaptive stability over time. The framework is naturalistic and systems-based, situating purpose within thermodynamic and organisational constraints rather than outside physical explanation. The paper is presented as a speculative, interdisciplinary contribution intended to clarify the role of purpose in sustaining human coherence without invoking non-physical mechanisms.