Module 5

• Absurdism


  A philosophy that contradicts philosophy itself, where life has no meaning and the individual has the capacity to decide what to do with their absurd existence
• Existentialism


  A philosophy that emphasizes action, freedom, and decision as fundamental, and holds that the only way to rise above the essentially absurd condition of humanity is by exercising freedom and choice
• Major Proponents


  • Soren Kierkegaard
  • Friedrich Nietzsche
  • Albert Camus
• Existentialist solution to a meaningless life

  Life is absurd, therefore one has to create their own meaning
• Absurdist solution to a meaningless life


  Life is absurd but one must keep on living, persisting nonetheless to attain true freedom from absurdity
• Physical suicide


  Not an option for existentialists
• Philosophical suicide


  The belief in God alone, religious or any philosophical system is insufficient; no external system can provide you with the answers; thus you must take responsibility in providing them yourself
• Ubermensch (Nietzsche's ideal human being)


  The Overman, the word reflects the importance in Nietzsche's philosophy of overcoming - overcoming traditional values, overcoming the herd mentality and most importantly, overcoming yourself
• Sisyphus (Camus' absurd hero)


  Despite realizing that life doesn't mean anything, he had a burning desire to use up everything that is given to him; to seize every moment of his suffering and find strength in persisting
• Albert Camus: 'The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.'
• Camus teaches that it is possible to find happiness in a world where we have limited resources - time, money, health, dignity, pride, hope, knowledge, love, power</b>
• The Myth of Sisyphus is an absurdist literature
• Characteristics of absurdist fiction

  • It does not follow a standard story structure
  • Explicit moral values are unclear or sometimes non-existent
  • Dark irony and irrationality are evident and are used as very effective literary devices
  • Writers create the irrational out of nowhere to highlight the world's senselessness
  • Time, place and identity are fluid
  • The focus is on the individual characters rather than on a society or a broad group of people. It observes the action of one individual which later can be generalized to all humans
• Absurd literature explores the age-old mystery of human existence and attempts to provide answers to philosophical questions most people ask in their lifetime
• Absurd literature appears trivial on the surface but it asks the most essential questions that goes beyond reason, faith or truth
• Literature can only present the author's individual reasoning to aid others in the attempt to find the answers to these questions
• Camus' solutions to combat the absurdity of life in The Myth of Sisyphus


  • Accepting that "there is no meaning outside of our meaningless life" which means that relying on the "leap of faith" is "philosophical suicide"
  • Physical Suicide is a coward's way out of this meaningless life
  • Accepting the absurdity of life but continue to live in revolt
• The only way to win a losing battle in this absurd life is by accepting defeat but at the same time not giving up the fight. Only then can one truly achieve absolute freedom from absurdity