Absurdity of Existence

Notes

Claim

We can never know things "as they truly are" Seeing reality without subjective bias reduces distortion, nor our "purpose in life" which is hard to find when the only certainty is Mortality shapes meaning and motivates acceptance. Either through our rational capacity, or our senses, we cant escape the processing of our consciousness, which can lead to biases.

Explanation

Since we are Humans compulsively seek patterns and meaning even in chaos in a world that will forever be unknown as is, it can cause feelings of despair. After all, to constantly search for meaning, the be hopeful and full of questions, is demoralizing when the universe fails to answer your questions, it is filled with evil, Uncertainty creates anxiety when knowledge and control are incomplete and meaninglessness, and the only certainty is death.

To escape this despair, we can cancel either side of the equation of us vs the universe. Option one is to give up on the rational quest for understanding, on "us", and surrender to the mystical Acting before understanding requires trusting instinct and resonance. To let go of the search itself, to live as flow, to believe that the self is a construct, and that we are just a cell in the giant organism which is nature/universe.

Option two is to deny the universe. That nothing else exists but consciousness solipcism, that the universe is devoid of answers because it doesn't matter, that all we know, and all we should care about is us Indifference. Morality is a construct without real meaning.

Both are forms of philosophical suicide and both don't solve but rather deny the problem of absurdity of life.

Why it matters

Therefore, the only true way to solve it is to embrace the Ambiguity is the absence of clarity in values or facts and believe that we matter. Believing in our worth, in the importance of our quest for meaning in a silent universe is a Self fulfilling prophecy, it becomes true by acting as if it is Truth and goodness are defined by practical usefulness. We ignore all the voices that tries to say that what we do doesn't matter. By believing it does, it does.

Same goes for free will, by believing we control ourselves and our destiny, we can influence our lives. Therefore, moral life is to "live" as much as possible, which is more a question of quality than quantity, which means to fill our time with worthwhile activities, to act, to implement our beliefs as much as possible The will to power is the inner drive to transcend oneself and become something greater.

However, that doesn't mean that our life will go the way we planned. We have to remember that Life is pain, it is unavoidable, it is part of what it means to be alive.

What is that solution? It can't be told, it must be found and created by you only Meaning is Crafted. Either way, facing the absurd is a transforming experience.

Examples

For example imagine Sisyphus. His greatest challenge is not pushing that rock up a hill, but rather facing the absurdity, when he chooses to push it up again after falling down. To do something even though he knows it's pointless, will only bring you pain, etc.

Sisyphus's actions are useless, but in the end we must imagine him happy, i.e believing that there's a solution to the absurd.

Supporters

Opposers

There are many solutions to the absurd, some are empty of meaning and some are meaningful. Ideology and religion are examples of such empty solutions, because it is just a form of Escapism is withdrawing from difficulty through distraction and avoidance since the "meaning" is forced upon you, it is external to you, you choose essence over existence Surrendering agency to external forces destroys individual identity.

To base your meaning on the results of your actions is also problematic, because in the end the one sure thing is death, for you and for all, so what is the point of even trying?

Open questions

Visual

Overview

🔼Topic:: Value and Meaning ↩️Origin:: Albert Camus 🔗Link::