Disambiguation: Theatre of the Absurd

In Philosophy, The Absurd refers to humans who continue to live their lives, despite knowledge that their lives are utterly pointless.

It is related to existentialism, and it is in part a hyponym of nihilist.

Why is life pointless?

The most common definition of "point" is that to have point, something (an object, or simply living one's life) must have a higher purpose to justify it. However, for that higher purpose to have "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.

Solutions

• 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. See The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays and The Rebel.

• God or religion provides a point to life for some people. However, the above argument can be applied again: what is the purpose of God?

• One solution is simply to reject the definition; to instead define "the point of life is to live." This is not a solution to the above problem, but instead a different problem.

• Many people accept that life is pointless but do not consider this a problem. As above, even if ultimate purpose did exist, it might not satisfy us. Instead they create meaning in their own lives, which is not ultimate meaning but provides something to do. They may also ignore the problem.

See Also

• The Absurd Hero by Bob Lane, 1996.

References

• Thomas Nagel: Mortal Questions, 1991. ISBN 0521406765