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Definitely my favorite philosophy, to live as much as possible despite the contradictions that we face day to day. Gonna explain a little in case you haven't heard of it. Albert Camus, a french guy who basically made the school of thought, described the "absurd" as how we as humans inherently search for meaning in an ultimately meaningless world (this is i guess a form of nihilism as it assumes the world is meaningless which I also agree with). Thing is, I don't necessarily see it as a bad thing. Without some grand purpose for living you are able to fill your life with what experiences you are passionate about (within the confines of common sense of course, this doesnt mean you can just be a serial killer or something), there doesn't necessarily need to be meaning at all. Camus argues that choosing to live and live as vibrantly as possible despite an inherant lack of meaning is, in of itself, a rebellion against our absurd situation. To look deep into the void and hold its gaze, to participate in the staring contest that can only end up one way but trying your best despite it all. "Why should I keep going? ...why not?". All these sights, all these experiences, it would be a shame to waste. Live for the sake of living.
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Anybody else vibe with Absurdism?
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5 Replies
Reply by Linda
posted
absurdism is definetly my philosophy too! Trying to find a meaning in life always seemed like a waste of time, cuz then you get a tunnel vision to make your life about something you might not enjoy, but "thats what I was made for". I like the thought of mortality and that I wont have a big impact on this world, if any at all. My dad told me that one time when I was around 6 years old, I asked him why we are here, and that it took him a minute to realise that a six year old girl just doubted purpose of life. But then he explained how he thinks that we are here to create other people and try to always do a bit better. Thats a pretty sweet theory too, but now I'll stick with absurdism and the peace of meaninglessness:)
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Reply by Frater C
posted
Absurdism is a fascinating philosophy on the Existential. I've definitely incorporated a good portion of it into my own personal philosophical world view. I take a pretty spiritual and esoteric approach to the absurd as well, understanding the relativistic nature of the experience in life and embracing the "Divine Comedy" as it were.
Absurdism is pretty close in some regards to the beauty of Terry Pratchett's "Discworld". He takes a more generalized "Existential" approach to his narratives, but I feel some of it really rings true alongside absurdism as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPS5Yw_YsHA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGGzbxeYtmU
Reply by sneklipse.
posted
"You will never live if you look for the meaning of life," yeah, sounds about right.
Never really though of anything spiritually, so that seems like an interesting perspective frater
Reply by Film Punk Dan
posted
I would say I also believe in Absurdism; however, I am still a novice to the idea. So please fill free to educate me.
Reply by sneklipse.
posted
Honestly same, I've done some studies but I haven't even fully read any texts by Albert Camus, only partially. If you have any questions I'll answer to the best of my ability though