In her work "Living by Fiction," Annie Dillard discusses the necessity of attributing a creator to the universe if we view it as a crafted artifact. This perspective implies that there should be a figure like an author or artist who conceptualizes and shapes the universe, akin to a filmmaker or composer. This notion prompts a deeper inquiry into the essence of existence and the nature of creativity.

Dillard notes that the idea of a universe with a specific creator has fallen out of favor since the American transcendentalists and Medieval philosophers. It highlights a shift in thought, suggesting a broad societal reluctance to acknowledge an active artist behind the tapestry of existence, despite the natural inclination to seek meaning and authorship in the world around us.