The universe may be a part to a larger whole, and given it's temporary state, that seems like a possibility. Certainly we can't live in the only universe. So there could be a purpose to the universe as a part of... something else. It definitely isn't the construct of some deity, though.
As for "why did life take so long"... well it was probably waiting for the universe to cool down so that life could actually exist in it.
Yes, it could be phrased "life exists which allows the universe to observe itself".
I understand that there really isn't a point, as far as we can tell, for the existence of our universe. It starts, it ends, we're in it. But if the universe started and ended with no life in it? That would be the ultimate pointlessness. Nothing was observed. It might as well not have even happened.
I think the quote is meant to mean that life is even a thing that happens, so that the universe can observe itself. Like, amino acids and chemicals can come together and form something that can take action and observe so that the universe can observe itself. Does that make more sense? The universe could have been completely devoid of organic elements, or there could be no such thing as organic elements; there could be no fuel for life. But there is, and it might be so that the universe can self observe.
also, in your first post, what exactly are the "dimensions of aliveness"?
as for the mirror, you said you need to be able to self reflect in order to understand that you are alive... that might not necessarily be true. Animals cannot understand that their reflection in the mirror is themselves, and cannot self reflect, but they fear death. They don't know that they are going to die (can't plan for it, don't think that far into the future) but know when they are dying and fear it. Isn't that knowledge of life?
And any living thing can observe. cells observe, because they interpret their environment into information that makes sense to them. They don't observe as well as we do, but that's only because our perceptions are more advanced than theirs.
"dimensions of aliveness"
i mean that i believe that we live in infinity and life is just one option, one way that a observing observer could receive information about being observe by its own self
life being just one medium in a sea of infinity of other option
as for the universe being pointless without life
i dont see it as being anymore purposeful by being able to observe itself
i think its a matter of transposition here where you yourself personify the universe with having human quality, human value (and doesnt that makes it closer to a deity?)
arent you simply saying that you want to feel that the universe does have a purpose ?
and why would you want that ?
because it makes life meaningful ?
does anything need a purpose if you yourself can give it meaning
and isnt that what you are doing here by saying : "and it might be so that the universe can self observe."
you are giving meaning to the universe so that the universe can give meaning to your life personally
but you dont need the universe to have a purpose to you yourself give it whatever subjective meaning you care to give it, instead of the other way around
or else doesnt that share similarity to intelligent design
and when you say : "Isn't that knowledge of life? "
i divide myself in 3, knowledge is in the head, understanding is in the heart and experience is in the animal body
so i would say they can experience fear, they are program to go towards the light, towards what feels good, and to avoid the darkness, what feels bad
doesnt mean that they know that they are alive, they are experiencing without knowing