Our interpreting the universe as an artifact absolutely requires that we posit an author for it, or a celestial fimmaker, dramatist, painter, sculptor, composer, architect, or choreographer. And no one has been willing openly to posit such an artist for the universe since the American transcedentalists and before them the Medieval European philosophers.
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.
