Because the phrase “The Will to Explore” applies to different concepts, the primary answer depends entirely on your context:
In Gaming: It is a core travel mechanic in the 2022 cosmic-horror puzzle game Strange Horticulture.
In Space Exploration: It is a famous philosophical concept referenced by figures like Elon Musk and NASA flight directors, detailing humanity’s drive to colonize other planets. 1. The Game Mechanic (Strange Horticulture)
In the occult puzzle game Strange Horticulture, The Will to Explore is a dedicated resource meter that dictates when you can leave your plant shop to search the local map for new specimens.
[ Your Plant Shop ] —> (Spend “Will to Explore”) —> [ Map Coordinates ] ^ | |————— (Water Plants / Serve Customers) <——-|
How it works: Every time you travel to a grid coordinate to hunt for a plant or investigate a clue, the meter depletes and undergoes a cooldown.
Replenishing the meter: The gauge naturally fills up as you progress through days. However, you can manually speed up the process by picking up your watering can and watering the plants around your shop, or by opening new mail clues.
The Penalty: If you follow a vague clue and explore the wrong square on the map, the meter is wasted, forcing you to wait or water more plants before trying again. 2. The Aerospace Concept (Spaceflight & History)
Historically and politically, “the will to explore” refers to the psychological, societal, and financial drive required for human civilization to leave Earth.
The “Great Filter” Hypothesis: In astrobiology, a species’ innate “will to explore” is considered a potential hurdle (or Great Filter). A civilization might possess advanced technology but ultimately go extinct if it lacks the collective desire to become multi-planetary.
SpaceX & Mars: Elon Musk famously noted that he founded SpaceX because he thought humanity had “lost the will to explore” after the Apollo moon landings, believing a private company needed to reignite that drive to reach Mars.
NASA History: Legendary Apollo Flight Director Gene Kranz similarly challenged Congress in the 1970s, stating that abandoning the moon meant losing America’s fundamental “will to explore”. One Strange Rock Ft. Will Smith (Full Episode) | Nat Geo
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