the BLACKWINGED NIGHT
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the
BLACKWINGED NIGHT
Creativity in Nature and Mind
F. DAVID PEAT
BASI BOOKS
A Member of the Perseus Books Group New York
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Basic Books was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in initial capital letters. Copyright © 2000 by F. David Peat Previously published by Perseus Publishing Published by Basic Books, A Member of the Perseus Books Group All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America, A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. ISBN 0-7382-0491-9 Find us on the World Wide Web at http://www.basicbooks.com Books published by Basic Books are available at special discounts for bulk purchases in the U.S. by corporations, institutions, and other organizations. For more information, please contact the Special Markets Department at the Perseus Books Group, 387 Park Avenue South, Mew York, NY 10016, or call 617/252-5298 or 800/255-1514, or e-mail
[email protected] Text design by Jeff Williams Set in 14-point New Aster by the Perseus Books Group First printing, March 2000
For James
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Contents
1 2
1
The Living Universe 3
4
The Big Bang
33 59
Silence and the Void 5 6
7
Introduction
Language Ml About Time
89
115 145
Creativity and the Body 8
Conclusions Index
775
205
229
vii
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chapter 1
Introduction
We are all creative. Each one of us. We are creative when we're asleep and dreaming. We are creative the moment we open our eyes and look at the world. We are creative when we speak. Indeed, we have been immersed in creativity from the moment of birth. Creativity nurtured us when we took our first steps and spoke our first words. And creativity will continue to embrace us until the end of our lives. Creativity permeates the cosmos. It is the driving force that sustains the elementary particles, th