This chapter presents an overview of the goals of universal biology. It is noted that biological systems are generally hierarchical as molecules-cells-organisms, where the components of each level are quite diverse. How such diversity arises and is maintained is discussed. We then discuss the possibility of understanding such biological systems with diverse components, and explore the possibility of macroscopic theory to reveal and formulate universal properties in living states, noting that robustness, plasticity, and activity are essential to life. Recalling the spirit (not the formulation) of thermodynamics, we explore the possibility of formulating a theory for characterizing universal properties in life, emphasizing macroscopic robustness at each level of the hierarchy and the importance of macro-micro consistency.