Absurdism
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Disambiguation:
This entry is about the philosophy of Absurdism. For other uses, see:
Absurdism is a philosophy stating that the efforts of man to find meaning in the universe will ultimately fail because no such meaning exists (at least in relation to man).
Absurdism is related to Existentialism, though should not be confused with it, and is in part a hyponym of nihilist. It was born of the Existentialist movement when the French philosopher and writer Albert Camus broke from that philosophical line of thought and published his manuscript The Myth of Sisyphus. The aftermath of World War II provided the social environment that stimulated absurdist views and allowed for their popular development, especially in the devastated country of France.
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What's the point?
The most common definition of "point" is that something (an object, or simply living one's life) must have a higher purpose to justify it. However, for that higher purpose to have "a point", then it, too, must have an even higher purpose. These "chains of justification" never come to an end; therefore, nothing can be considered to have ultimate purpose. If they did come to an end, they might still not satisfy us. For example, for a cow to know that its higher purpose was to be eaten would probably not satisfy it.
Humans historically attempt to find meaning in the universe, according to Absurdism. Yet, the world is irrational and does not conform to the standards or wishes of mankind and so this search is inevitably in vain. The search traditionally leads people down one of two paths: the conclusion that life is meaningless, or the filling of this vacuum by some artificial means such as God or religion. However, the above argument can be applied again: What is the purpose of God?
Suicide is a solution to some because it seems a rational reaction to the absurdity of life; but most people try to find an alternative solution. For Albert Camus suicide is not a worthwhile solution, because if life is truly absurd, then the only way to engage it is to keep the internal reaction to the absurd going. Thus, if the conscience is not alive, this interaction between mind and absurdity cannot exist.
Another solution is simply to reject the definition — to instead define that "the point of life is to live." This is not a solution to the above problem, but a different problem. People may create meaning in their own lives, which is not ultimate meaning but provides something to do.
Camus argues for the path of accepting that life is essentially meaningless while continuing to live. Camus describes three archetypes of these people, whom he dubs 'absurd heroes': the Rebel, the Artist, and the Don Juan. Also noteworthy is Camus' novel, The Stranger, which depicts an ordinary man's struggle with the absurd.
Examples
- Theatre of the Absurd, most famous being Beckett's Waiting for Godot.
- Edward Albee's "The American Dream," and "A Zoo Story"
- Albert Camus' novels The Stranger and The Fall, and philosophical works The Myth of Sisyphus and The Rebel.
- Tom Stoppard's comedic play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.
- Cartoon Network's exercise in absurdist animated storytelling Tom Goes to the Mayor.
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction Multimedia series.
- The black and white motion picture the pigeon egg strategy.
References
- Thomas Nagel: Mortal Questions, 1991. ISBN 0521406765
See also
- Theatre of the Absurd
- Non sequitur (absurdism)
- The Absurd Hero by Bob Lane, 1996.
