Nothing matters (so do nothing because there is no reason to do something)
Nothing matters (so do anything because why not!?)
Because I didn't know absurdism, I read the second one differently at first:
[The] nothing matters.
And I immediately had to think of this gem:
"But it doesn't do anything!" - "No, it does nothing."
The absurdism depicted isn’t pure absurdism because there’s the presence of style, which is a system of meaning and value. So, as depicted, that’s more existentialism or a healthy and cool blend of absurdism with existentialism.
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That’s an interesting point.
Upon further reflection, I discovered I don't fully understand the nuances. So I tried to think it through.
I think it goes as follows:
- Nihilism says there is no meaning so any pursuit whatsoever is futile. (Not goal based.)
- Existentialism says there is no universal meaning but it is the individual who creates meaning. So we project our meaning into the world and live in it and therefore live in a meaningful world. We should search for our personal meaning. (Goal based.)
- Absurdism says there is no universal meaning and if there is, we'll never understand it. This doesn't mean we shouldn't enjoy transient pseudo-meanings, though. In fact, we SHOULD enjoy them. But we should be aware that they're not eternal and not objective. (Not goal based.)
So, on second thought, I think the meme does a great a job at capturing absurdism. Still, the difference between existentialism and absurdism is subtle.
What do you all think? Is that kinda the idea?
I wonder if Existentialists or Absurdists consider our biological reality and needs when developing the ideas. For instance, we need food, shelter, social acceptance, and so forth. What does this say about "meaning" and pursuits like fashion and style (as it relates to social acceptance?). How does Maslow's hierarchy of needs fit in with these philosophies?
"Don’t we try to categorize everything though"
That sounds like a you problem :P
Enter constructivist relativism
Did you mean optimistic nihilism?
Extremely similar to absurdism.
mfw I realize that maybe absurdism is my coping mechanism
Yeah, mine as well.
Sartre says you can be angry and furious at the absurd, Camus says to laugh at it. The absurd is the gap between what we expect to happen, and what actually happens.
Many absurdists also believe in a mind-body split (see Nagel's "What is it like to be a bat?" essay, available for free in pdf format) or that consciousness may be something other than physical and that's where I tend to disagree with them. In general, the essays tend to be extremely interesting and worth reading even if you disagree. Philosophical literature is usually written so precisely and specifically that it's unlike other types of reading.
If you can get to the point that it's okay that nothing inherently matters, it will no longer need to be a coping mechanism.
Man i switch between those 2 and existentialism like every day. Sometimes even on the same day depending on mood and stuff
Nothing really matters, anyone can see.
Nothing really matters
…..t’meeeeeeeeeEEEEEEeeeeeeeEeEeEeEe
🎹
Someone who comes here today will be happy to see this. I was, and I hope you are too. Exurb1a is just a treat, check out his other work too.
Thank you, one of those someones is me. Now i have a new dude to peep (and i should read camus).
Edit for the void: one page into 'The Plague' and I'm getting chills.
Thanks. This video is gold. I watched it a year ago but this is something i should rewatch once in a while.
I strive to be like Gonzo from the Muppet movies. That whatever is the very picture of the ubermensch.
Hmm. Your ideas are intriguing to me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
Why not neither?
You can do neither. Knowing that there's no inherent meaning to existence isn't for everyone. And I would argue that it's better to not be a nihilist at all than to be a pessimistic one.
I prefer dadaism
The fact that things just keep getting weirder lends more credence to absurdism.
Wow it's really hard to pin down a definition of Nihilism. Anyway, I always saw Nihilism as a view that nothing is meaningful, that everything means nothing. But not that nothing matters. If you have no meaning to ascribe value to anything or anyone, you wouldn't find meaning in unnecessary harm or discomfort to others, in a harm reduction mindset.
To me, the definition is "the belief that there is no intrinsic meaning to human existence." You then have two choices: despair that nothing matters (pessimistic nihilism), or recognize that we humans create our own meaning and strive to enjoy existence on those terms (optimistic nihilism). One way I heard it expressed recently was "The universe doesn't care. But people do."
Exactky. We can pick what we care about.
Hurting other people makes me unhappy, therefore I choose to try and make other people happy, because that makes me happy and I enjoy being happy.
Everything matters. Just because you cant see or feel dont foist it on those of us who can
No, it does not. The universe does not exist for a reason, and neither do you. It just is. Trying to find a true meaning is futile.
You're conflating subjective and objective. Just because things subjectively matter to you (they also subjectively matter to most nihilists as well) doesn't mean they objectively matter. That's where the distinction lies.
Needs clarification - nothing intrinsically matters. But things do matter to people.
True…
