dhw: In that case, the purpose is a giant bush – not one single species.

DAVID: But as I pointed out there was a bush explosion of various hominins as the major thrust of evolution in the past 8-10 million years. That is the purposeful event. You are trying to dilute it.

dhw: It is you who are trying to “dilute it” by saying that one single species (Homo sapiens) was the purpose of the giant bush. I am pointing out that a single purpose would normally follow a straight line and not branch out into a higgledy-piggledy bush.

But all of evolution's past has produced bushes as it progressed. Where is the straight line you are suggesting?