[baobabaobab]

>This way we could say the entire universe is just a big chemical reaction. It wouldn't even be an incorrect view. It just wouldn't be useful for anything.

It's a world view, I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that it's useless. Religions are world views, and they have certainly been put to use.

If it's true, does it even matter if it's useful? Maybe truth is more important than utility.

[TeMPOraL]

There is no meaning in asking whether it's true or not, because "chemical reaction" is a model we create, a map describing territory. In no way is the "universe is a big chemical reaction" more 'true' than "universe is composed of stars, stars have planets around, at least one planet has life on it" than Pale Blue Dot is more 'true' than Google Maps. Different maps, same territory, and the only thing that matters is which one is more useful for given purpose.