Redtree Times

The Restless Edge– Available through the West End Gallery

The pursuit of science is more than the pursuit of understanding. It is driven by the creative urge, the urge to construct a vision, a map, a picture of the world that gives the world a little more beauty and coherence than it had before.

–John Archibald Wheeler, Geons, Black Holes, and Quantum Foam: A Life in Physics, 1998

I know that the quote above is primarily concerned with science since it comes from John Archibald Wheeler, the late (1911-2008) theoretical physicist who was a superstar in his field, responsible for originating terms such as Black Holes and Wormholes.

But as he points out, scientific pursuit is not unlike other endeavors that begin with the creative urge. I very much like his description of the driving need behind the creative urge: to construct a vision, a map, a picture of the world that gives the world a little more beauty and coherence than it had before.

Actually, the first thing that came to mind after reading his words was that the creative urge is a survival skill.

Art and every other thing brought into being by this desire to create ultimately aid in our survival. It provides insight and tangible evidence of the purpose and meaning of our lives in a world that constantly challenges our understanding of it.

The creative urge has been perhaps the dominant survival skill in my life. Without it, I have no idea what my life might be now. Or if I would still even exist. The creative urge has saved my life more than once.

I have no doubt that it will continue to do so.

It’s a powerful force. I urge you all to construct, as Wheeler said, your own vision, map and picture of the world. It might well provide you with better understanding of this world for yourself and others.

That being said, here’s a Nick Lowe classic, When I Write the Book.

Now get out of here– I have a creative urge that needs to be fed.