Tackling Absurdism

You are a complex and nuanced individual. You have layers to your personality. You meet multiple people daily, you have so many experiences. You have a story to tell, your interests, aspirations, hopes and dreams. 

You may sometimes feel like you're the most complicated being on earth. After all, you have so much going on, don't you?

But so does everyone else. Everybody else has their own stories, problems, dreams. Everyone else thinks they're a complex person. And that's because they are. We live in a complex world, after all.

All this, for what?

What even are we, a swarming bunch of self-righteous, self-absorbed microbes on a rock in the middle of nowhere?

What is the meaning of life?

What's the point anyway?

Every single action that happened since the beginning of the universe, right from the big bang, every slightest choice has led up to this - upto your reading this blogpost. The smallest difference would have changed this outcome vastly. Our present is a mosaic of our pasts.

But once you manage to put the sheer scale of it into perspective (which, admittedly, our monkey brains are physically incapable of), it seems...funny, doesn't it?

Funny in a suspiciously hilarious way.

Such an elaborate system - the universe, the evolution of consciousness and so forth - all for nothing. What a capital prank. How utterly glorious.

And such is life. Or, if we're being petty, such is the absurd.

The Absurd

The universe does not care about me. Honestly, fair enough. After all, in the grand scheme of things, I am unimportant, inconsequential, and my existence is a mere frivolity that will soon pass over.

However, I am human, and this means I have an inherent instinct to look for pattern, value and order, however erratic I may be at maintaining it.

It's very difficult to look through the JWST gallery without feeling incredibly small.

The 'absurd' refers to the conflict between the human search for meaning and the chaos of the OnlyRedHerrings posting sched – I mean, the chaos and indifference of the universe.

The philosophy that deals with the absurd is absurdism. It was popularized by French-Algerian philosopher and writer Albert Camus.

Human Response

Once you've recognised this absurdity, you have three choices - 

    1.     Succumb to despair
    2.     Embrace a belief system that imposes a meaning
    3.     Accept the absurd for what it is

Absurdism is the complete acceptance of the pointlessness of it all, and yet valuing the process that is 'life', regardless. Don't surrender to despair - find freedom and authenticity in the lack of inherent meaning. 

Live in a way that turns your very existence into an act of rebellion.

Hey, my life may not have a net effect on the way the universe works, but I made my friend smile today!

I may have glasses since age three, but that shouldn't stop me from grinning every time they fog up when I drink hot chocolate! 

Defy the indifference of the universe and asserts your own significance and values. This defiance gives life its value and dignity. It is an ongoing, continuous act of courage and resistance against the temptation to surrender to oblivion.

ASSERT DOMINANCE OVER THE UNIVERSE BY EXISTING IN ITS FACE!

The Myth of Sisyphus

It is impossible to speak of Absurdism without bringing up Sisyphus. I mean, it is possible, but I can't afford to have that on my conscience. Goodness gracious, no.

We set the scene in ancient Greece. Sun-soaked landscapes, olive trees, and gods with way too much free time on their hands. Enter Sisyphus, King of Ephyra, known for his cunning and deceit. Outsmarting death is his weekend hobby, including locking the Grim Reaper up in his closet at one point. 

But the gods don’t take kindly to being outplayed.

As punishment, Sisyphus is condemned to an eternity of rolling a massive boulder up a hill, only for it to tumble back down each time he nears the top.

Have you heard of a 'Sisyphean task'?

(As a side note: I've heard of many similar myths wherein a person, or occasional supernatural being, is given an 'impossible task', either as a punishment or as a counter to their insistence of being capable of everything. Take for example an Arabic tale about a 'Djinn', i.e., genie, who says that he will provide eternal wealth and luck to anyone who can keep him occupied. At the end he was tasked with trying a climb up an oiled rod, and having to oil it every time he slipped down. There are more variations, involving straightening a dog's tail and a woman's hair permanently.)

In Albert Camus' 1942 essay, "The Myth of Sisyphus", Camus uses Sisyphus’s eternal struggle to explore the concept of the absurd—the clash between our desire to find meaning in life and the unyielding silence of the universe.

Camus argues that 'one must imagine Sisyphus happy'. Why? Because the struggle itself can be fulfilling. 

(I've been staring at the word 'Sisyphus' for so long now the spelling looks wonky. All part of the climb, I suppose.)

As a particularly illustrious tweet puts it (Significantly paraphrased)

But bear in mind

No philosophy, no matter how well-founded, is completely 'fool-proof' per se. Indeed, every philosophy has its drawbacks, and that is what primarily makes it all so interesting to look at.

While the inherent meaninglessness of life can be freeing for some, it can also lead to existential dread for others. If nothing truly matters, why care about anything? The constant questioning of life's value might result in a persistent feeling of emptiness.

The idea of permanent uncertainty can certainly (eheh) be uncomfortable, and may have a significant emotional toll.

Besides, absurdism has fundamental disagreements with the functioning of the modern world, and practicing it in real life can be a complicated, if not alienating, process.

Society operates on shared values and meanings. Absurdism, with its rejection of inherent meaning, can clash with these norms. This philosophical stance might make it challenging to fit in or feel aligned with societal expectations. 

Rebellion may enliven, but be wary of isolation

If the climb is all that matters, and I don't enjoy the climb, surely the destination (if there is one) is not worth it? Why should I continue the climb at all? Why shouldn't I just end it all?

If my existence is futile, then why continue the self-inflicted suffering? It's not like the universe is going to changed based on what I perceive to be rebellion. 

You see where this is going, don't you?

The point is, philosophy can certainly be a capital source of intellectual stimulation. But it's important to keep in mind that you and your wellbeing come as first priority, regardless of anything else.

As Oscar Wilde advises, 'Everything in moderation, including moderation.' 

You're the only you in the world! There is birth and there is death. Everything in between is yours to take.

And yes. 42 is an amazing number.

*    *    *

Halloa! 

Just popping in to say I've managed to set up a little notification function so that you can get emails every time I post! It's tucked away into the menu with the three horizontal lines to the top right, so feel free to enter your email id if you're interested. 

While it would certainly help drive significant traffic to the blog, I plan to intentionally avoid making it a sudden pop-up every time someone opens this website, because I personally find those dialogue boxes obtrusive and incredibly frustrating. So it's going to stay perched up there unless I am forced to hunt for another less garish alternative. It's unlikely that I will.

Thanks for sticking around! Watch yourself for me, will you?

-BracketRocket