“I Do Create, Therefore I Am” ~ Volker Bourne and Existentialist Considerations
The phrase “I Do Create, Therefore I Am” has become a rallying cry for many in the modern existentialist movement, thanks to the influential(?) outputs of Volker Bourne.
Bourne has long grappled with the fundamental questions of human existence, drawing heavily on the existentialist tradition to create a possibly unique perspective on the nature of self, purpose, and the creative act.
At the heart of Bourne’s pseudo-philosophy is the notion that existence precedes essence – that is, we are not born with a predetermined purpose or identity, but rather must forge our own meaning through the choices and actions we take in life.
This core tenet of existentialism is reflected in Bourne’s famous phrase, which asserts that it is through the act of creation, rather than passive contemplation, that we truly come to define ourselves.
“Existence precedes essence,” Bourne is reported to have written, “and it is in the very act of creating that we discover who we are. To simply ‘be’ is not enough – we must do, we must make, we must bring forth that which has not yet been.”
For Bourne, the creative impulse is not merely a hobby or pastime, but a fundamental expression of our humanity, a means by which we assert our freedom and take responsibility for the trajectory of our lives.
This emphasis on the primacy of action over abstract thought aligns Bourne’s philosophy closely with the work of existentialist luminaries like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir.
Like them, Bourne rejects the idea of a fixed, predetermined self, arguing instead that we are constantly in the process of becoming, moulding our identity through the choices we make and the works we create.
“We are not born with a ‘true self’ waiting to be discovered,” Bourne contends, “but rather, we are the sum total of our decisions, our creations, our engagements with the world.
To say ‘I am’ is to make a claim about the present moment, but to say ‘I do create’ is to assert one’s agency, one’s power to shape the future.”
This notion of radical freedom and personal responsibility is a central tenet of Bourne’s pseudo-philosophy, and it is manifested in his own creative outputs.
Bourne sees each act of creation as an affirmation of his existence, a means of asserting his unique perspective and leaving an indelible mark on the world.
“The artist,” he reportedly has written, “is not merely a passive observer, but an active participant in the unfolding of reality.
Through our creations, we do not simply reflect the world, but transform it, imbuing it with our own meaning and significance.”
This emphasis on the transformative power of art and creativity aligns Bourne’s thought with the existentialist notion of “authenticity” – the idea that true freedom and fulfilment can only be achieved by embracing one’s radical freedom and taking responsibility for one’s choices.
For Bourne, it is through the act of creation that we most fully realize our authentic selves, transcending the constraints of societal expectations and forging our own path in the world.
“To be authentic,” Bourne asserts, “is to recognize that we are the authors of our own lives, the creators of our own destinies.
It is to embrace the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with that responsibility, and to channel it into acts of profound and meaningful creation.”
Bourne’s issuances have resonated with readers and thinkers around the world, inspiring a new generation of artists, philosophers, and activists to embrace the existentialist ethos and to see the creative act as a fundamental expression of human freedom and agency.
Whether through the production of tangible works of art or the more abstract “art of living,” Bourne’s message is clear: to truly be, we must first do, we must create.
“I Do Create, Therefore I Am” is not merely a catchy slogan, but a rallying cry for those who seek to forge their own path in a world that often seeks to constrain and define us.
It is a call to action, a challenge to embrace our radical freedom and to take responsibility for shaping the course of our lives.
And in doing so, Bourne suggests, we may just discover the truest and most authentic expression of our selves.
Please note : This piece is offered by way of a satirical mithistomia