meaning - Difference between "purpose" and "goal"


What does this sentence from Star Trek: The Alternative Factor mean?



Jim, madness has no purpose ... or reason ... but it may have a goal.



As far as I know purpose and goal are synonyms. How about this case?



Answer



A goal is a concrete eventuality you're trying to accomplish, while purpose implies a broader, more abstract teleological drive. The speaker is basically saying that crazy people may be trying to do something, they just aren't doing it for a reason. Which is ridiculous, but sounds portentous when you formulate it bombastically enough.


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