Absurdism

[I Have No Idea]

In my IB English class we're reading The Stranger, a book that has heavy absurdist themes peppered throughout. The main character, Mersault, is a man who does not care, period. It's not apathy, it's passivity. He responds to his girlfriend's idea about getting married with the enthusiasm of asking someone to pass the salt. He agree to defend his friend Raymond in court even though he's clearly in the wrong. He's simply an object that's passed from situation to situation, and the character's actually kind of scary because of his attitude.

So. Discussion value: What do you think of absurdism? Personally I don't understand it at all. There has to be some meaning to life, you know?

 

[Mauso88]

Trying to see everything as absurd, obnoxious and generally not worth, is possibly a defence mechanism to cope with the bullshit and tedium that we all face day in, day out. Different people cope differently with life and Absurdism is just one of those ways. Maybe the meaning of life is to see how good it is while it lasts.

 

[I Have No Idea]

Applying a meaning to life is itself absurd, because there is none.

I don't understand why this isn't understood.

Then how can you live without being in perpetual depression? If there's no meaning to life, then why do you live? I'm not saying "Go kill yourself!" or anything (I'm not a douchenozzle), just to be clear.

 

[loc978]

In a way, I suppose I'm an Absurdist, though this is the first I've heard of it (this prompted me to read the wikipedia article [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism] on it). I've certainly faced and accepted the Absurd at this point in my life.
I've defined meaning for myself as the defense of reason as I see it, though... so I'm certainly not one like the character in that book you read.

As for

So. Discussion value: What do you think of absurdism? Personally I don't understand it at all. There has to be some meaning to life, you know?

...apparently, Absurdism doesn't state that there is no meaning to life [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism#Relationship_with_existentialism_and_nihilism], but rather that if such meaning exists, it is most likely unknowable to us... and that to cope with that dichotomy, we pretty much have to make a choice between Accepting the Absurd, religion, or suicide [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism#Brief_description].

 

[TheVioletBandit]

I see myself as an absurdest simply because of the truth Rene Descartes unveiled Cogito ergo sum "I think therefor I am" through the rationalism of methodological skepticism we have to come to the conclusion that there is but one single principle beyond doubt "thought" nothing else can be know, as thought is the only indubitable knowledge.

In regards to "the meaning of life" Absurdism says that a meaning cannot be known, but this doesn't mean that a personal meaning for ones own life could not be developed.

 

[HardkorSB]

In my IB English class we're reading The Stranger, a book that has heavy absurdist themes peppered throughout. The main character, Mersault, is a man who does not care, period. It's not apathy, it's passivity. He responds to his girlfriend's idea about getting married with the enthusiasm of asking someone to pass the salt. He agree to defend his friend Raymond in court even though he's clearly in the wrong. He's simply an object that's passed from situation to situation, and the character's actually kind of scary because of his attitude.

So. Discussion value: What do you think of absurdism? Personally I don't understand it at all. There has to be some meaning to life, you know?

You want to know the meaning of life?
It's eating, drinking, shitting, pissing, sleeping and fucking. Everything else is just sugar coating.

Why do I live? Because I'm alive. Isn't the possibility of being alive enough to live? I've beaten thousands of sperm cells to be alive. They didn't get the opportunity that I've got. If I didn't want to be alive, I wouldn't make it to the damn egg, would I?
All the things you can experience while being alive, both positive and negative, are wonderful. Also, being a member of the most highly evolved species on the planet with the most complex brain, I can experience so much more than other life forms. Isn't that awesome?

 

[SecretsOfMoon]

Applying a meaning to life is itself absurd, because there is none.

I don't understand why this isn't understood.

Then how can you live without being in perpetual depression? If there's no meaning to life, then why do you live? I'm not saying "Go kill yourself!" or anything (I'm not a douchenozzle), just to be clear.

How can you convince yourself that there is a preconcieved meaning to one's existence? How would such a thing give one's life more substance over accepting the idea that that's not the case? And to be clear, for the purposes of this question both the ideas of there being a meaning for life and not being a meaning for life are equally valid.

 

[TheIronRuler]

In my IB English class we're reading The Stranger, a book that has heavy absurdist themes peppered throughout. The main character, Mersault, is a man who does not care, period. It's not apathy, it's passivity. He responds to his girlfriend's idea about getting married with the enthusiasm of asking someone to pass the salt. He agree to defend his friend Raymond in court even though he's clearly in the wrong. He's simply an object that's passed from situation to situation, and the character's actually kind of scary because of his attitude.

So. Discussion value: What do you think of absurdism? Personally I don't understand it at all. There has to be some meaning to life, you know?

.
Alber Camus makes you think, doesn't he? I've read 'The Plague' and in it there are various characters that address these themes differently, I suggest you read the book, it might give you new insights about these ideals.
Absurdism is the idea that you, me, I... What the hell are we doing here? I mean, there is no god, then the meaning of life is what we make of it, right? But for thousands of years we have lived in a society oppressed by something, be it fear of a predator, a god, a ruler or your boss. What is the point in all of this? So you see this quest for knowledge, for the reason that we exist in contrast to the emptiness of space... We WANT to have meaning in our lives, but the truth is that there is none. This is absurd... Why are we hard-wirred in such a way to begin with?
The writer that you speak of endorses that you should be aware of this gap and embrace it, because if you don't try and ignore it you will be ultimetly free...
Since there are no constraints, no morals, no gods... You are truely free to do what you want to do, as long as you can take the consequences.
.
My idea on the matter? Life has no meaning unless you yourself put something there, Don't let others do it for you, do it for yourself. Even though there really is no ultimate goal in this life of ours on this planet, we can try to find comfort in the things we enjoy and in other people. Its all absurd, but you cannot allow yourself to fall into depression.

 

[TheVioletBandit]

In a way, I suppose I'm an Absurdist, though this is the first I've heard of it (this prompted me to read the wikipedia article [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism] on it). I've certainly faced and accepted the Absurd at this point in my life.
I've defined meaning for myself as the defense of reason as I see it, though... so I'm certainly not one like the character in that book you read.

As for

So. Discussion value: What do you think of absurdism? Personally I don't understand it at all. There has to be some meaning to life, you know?

...apparently, Absurdism doesn't state that there is no meaning to life [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism#Relationship_with_existentialism_and_nihilism], but rather that if such meaning exists, it is most likely unknowable to us... and that to cope with that dichotomy, we pretty much have to make a choice between Accepting the Absurd, religion, or suicide [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism#Brief_description].

I agree with your statement, but I think that aside from accepting the absurd, religion or suicide one could also create personal meaning to their life. One may also balance between personal meaning, Accepting the absurd and religion.

 

[TheVioletBandit]

In my IB English class we're reading The Stranger, a book that has heavy absurdist themes peppered throughout. The main character, Mersault, is a man who does not care, period. It's not apathy, it's passivity. He responds to his girlfriend's idea about getting married with the enthusiasm of asking someone to pass the salt. He agree to defend his friend Raymond in court even though he's clearly in the wrong. He's simply an object that's passed from situation to situation, and the character's actually kind of scary because of his attitude.

So. Discussion value: What do you think of absurdism? Personally I don't understand it at all. There has to be some meaning to life, you know?

.
Alber Camus makes you think, doesn't he? I've read 'The Plague' and in it there are various characters that address these themes differently, I suggest you read the book, it might give you new insights about these ideals.
Absurdism is the idea that you, me, I... What the hell are we doing here? I mean, there is no god, then the meaning of life is what we make of it, right? But for thousands of years we have lived in a society oppressed by something, be it fear of a predator, a god, a ruler or your boss. What is the point in all of this? So you see this quest for knowledge, for the reason that we exist in contrast to the emptiness of space... We WANT to have meaning in our lives, but the truth is that there is none. This is absurd... Why are we hard-wirred in such a way to begin with?
The writer that you speak of endorses that you should be aware of this gap and embrace it, because if you don't try and ignore it you will be ultimetly free...
Since there are no constraints, no morals, no gods... You are truely free to do what you want to do, as long as you can take the consequences.
.
My idea on the matter? Life has no meaning unless you yourself put something there, Don't let others do it for you, do it for yourself. Even though there really is no ultimate goal in this life of ours on this planet, we can try to find comfort in the things we enjoy and in other people. Its all absurd, but you cannot allow yourself to fall into depression.

Absurdism doesn't claim that there is no G-d, It just say if there is He/she/it or whatever is unknowable.

 

[Gentle Dementia]

I pretty much live Absurdism, I went through a period of denial, then a couple years of whole-bodied, hate-filled, conversation-killing cynicism, and now I'm pretty absurdist/nihilistic/whatever-you-call-it-when-you-know-there's-nothing-but-you're-pretty-okay-with-it.

 

[loc978]

In a way, I suppose I'm an Absurdist, though this is the first I've heard of it (this prompted me to read the wikipedia article [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism] on it). I've certainly faced and accepted the Absurd at this point in my life.
I've defined meaning for myself as the defense of reason as I see it, though... so I'm certainly not one like the character in that book you read.

As for

So. Discussion value: What do you think of absurdism? Personally I don't understand it at all. There has to be some meaning to life, you know?

...apparently, Absurdism doesn't state that there is no meaning to life [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism#Relationship_with_existentialism_and_nihilism], but rather that if such meaning exists, it is most likely unknowable to us... and that to cope with that dichotomy, we pretty much have to make a choice between Accepting the Absurd, religion, or suicide [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism#Brief_description].

I agree with your statement, but I think that aside from accepting the absurd, religion or suicide one could also create personal meaning to their life. One may also balance between personal meaning, Accepting the absurd and religion.

I'd say that would technically just be accepting the Absurd... at least until whatever beliefs you manage to construct become an organized religion.

 

[TheVioletBandit]

Applying a meaning to life is itself absurd, because there is none.

I don't understand why this isn't understood.

Then how can you live without being in perpetual depression? If there's no meaning to life, then why do you live? I'm not saying "Go kill yourself!" or anything (I'm not a douchenozzle), just to be clear.

How can you convince yourself that there is a preconcieved meaning to one's existence? How would such a thing give one's life more substance over accepting the idea that that's not the case? And to be clear, for the purposes of this question both the ideas of there being a meaning for life and not being a meaning for life are equally valid.

I can see how a preconceived meaning to ones existence could be comforting. I think a big part of the anxiety that comes with life is from asking the question what am I suppose to do? why am I here? What is my purpose? Of course I think it's more fun to make your own way through life than be told exactly what to do, but still I can see the rational of the other side as well.

 

[TheVioletBandit]

I pretty much live Absurdism, I went through a period of denial, then a couple years of whole-bodied, hate-filled, conversation-killing cynicism, and now I'm pretty absurdist/nihilistic/whatever-you-call-it-when-you-know-there's-nothing-but-you're-pretty-okay-with-it.

That would be nihilism not absurdism. Absurdists suspect that there could be something but that that something is unknowable nihilist just believe in nothing.

 

[Esotera]

There has to be some meaning to life, you know?

Not really...to me life is just a game. You can't definitively prove anything one way or the other philosophically, logically, or scientifically, so you may as well have fun while you're here.

Basically, this.

Applying a meaning to life is itself absurd, because there is none.

I don't understand why this isn't understood.

 

[zehydra]

Applying a meaning to life is itself absurd, because there is none.

I don't understand why this isn't understood.

Explain what you mean by "applying a meaning to life"?

 

[Stew Coard]

After reading about it, it seems absurdism must exist as a paradox. It denies humans the ability to recognize purpose in life, but as a philosophy encourages us to explore it and think about it, instead of regarding the idea with mere apathy.

It doesn't sound as depressing as much as it sounds boring. Smells a bit like an idea that self-righteous libertines would like to wave around to make their self-entitled ideas sound justified and intellectual.

 

[zehydra]

There has to be some meaning to life, you know?

Not really...to me life is just a game. You can't definitively prove anything one way or the other philosophically, logically, or scientifically, so you may as well have fun while you're here.

Basically, this.

Applying a meaning to life is itself absurd, because there is none.

I don't understand why this isn't understood.

"to me life is just a game"

Well THERE's a meaning to life right there! Stop saying life is meaningless, you're adding meaning to it all the time.