The concept of “and not or” is very important to me. “And” creates and explores connections. I broadens and deepens our experience. Whereas “Or” divides. It splits reality into pieces and asks us to choose. Iain McGilchrist’s superb explanations of how the left and right hemispheres of the brain enable to focus on the world in very different ways has taught me to try to use my whole brain, not just half of it (we, as a civilisation, and, as individuals, have privileged the left hemisphere approach at the expense of a whole brain one, for far too long now)
But there’s another way in which I apply the “and not or” approach, and that’s through the triad of ways in which we humans view and try to understand the world – science, art and spirituality.
Science provides us with ways of discovering what exists objectively. A core feature of science is measurement. The scientific approach allows us to separate out objects from the ongoing flux of reality, measure them, subject them to experiments and, from there, to make predictions which enable us to exert greater control.
Art, on the other hand, provides us with ways of expressing our inner experience, and of sharing those experiences with others. It’s a range of ways of connecting subject to subject. We use art to express and communicate love, beauty, joy, and unique, individual experience of life. We use music, dance, storytelling, visual arts, poetry etc to develop our creativity and to engage with each other subject to subject. These subjective experiences are not measurable.
Thomas Berry says that the universe is not a collection of objects, it’s a community of subjects.
Thirdly, spirituality, is, for me, that sense of being connected to what is greater than me. I experience it through moments of awe. I experience it everyday through what the French call “l’emerveillement du quotidien” – through wonder, amazement and awe.
I need all of these ways of engaging with the world to lead a deep, whole and meaningful life. Science isn’t enough by itself. It can’t help us to connect, subject to subject. Art isn’t enough by itself, it lacks science’s ability to isolate elements in the objective world to better understand and manipulate them. Spirituality isn’t enough in itself but it stokes our humility and our sense of connection with others and with the rest of the planet, even, the universe.
How about you? Do you enjoy all three? Science, Art and Spirituality?
Heroes Not Zombies 
I appreciate the way in which you weave the three together, Bob. There is a wholeness about life that cannot be divided. Thank you.
Yes, I think and write about science, art, and spirituality. All the time. I see Spirit and spirituality in the rhythm of the infinite cosmos. I experience and learn to trust immeasurable Love. Rather than argue as if science, art, and spirituality reveal life or truth, I watch the movement of mind and honest investigation revealing the best of science, art, and spirituality. My latest book is, Science and Spirituality: Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the First Edition of Mary Baker Eddy’s Science and Health. The topic of science, art and spirituality is not a new idea but we need to keep searching with new eyes. And I thank you for doing so.