National Purpose?

David S. F. Portree in Wired:

"Over the weekend I tweeted, somewhat provocatively, that the purpose of the British Empire was to enable Darwin to write and publish Origin of Species. Obviously this is a tongue-in-cheek statement, not meant to be taken entirely seriously. For one thing, it’s science-chauvinist, for it ignores all other kinds of accomplishments. Like many such statements, however, it has serious underpinnings. It addresses an important question, one that I believe all societies should ask of themselves on a regular basis. Boiled down, it can be stated as, “by what deed(s) will we be remembered?”"

The Purpose of the United States