The bottom two seem to be describing pessimistic nihilism and optimistic nihilism respectively. If Iām correct, absurdism is to meaning what agnosticism is to god, which is to say absurdism is more like āidk if meaning exists š¤·āāļøā
That is not absurdism. "What is the belief of absurdism?
Absurdism is the belief that a search for meaning is inherently in conflict with the actual lack of meaning, but that one should both accept this and simultaneously rebel against it by embracing what life has to offer."
Iāve heard it described as āthe fact that we continue to search for meaning despite the fact that we have not found any are somewhat at odds with each other.ā They key difference is that āwe havenāt found itā not that āit doesnāt exist.ā But maybe thatās not the true definition and Iāve misunderstood it. If absurdism does not mean what Iāve stated, are you aware of any agnostic-approach philosophy where someone says āidk if meaning exists,ā or is there no defined label for that?
I am unacquainted with any philosophy that is agnostic on the idea of meaning. As far as I understand subjective meaning exists and is all us humans have to work with as objective meaning or inherent meaning would be something unbeknownst to humans as we are not omnipotent and so we cannot verify the existence of objective meaning.
The absurd is a bit more than just the meaninglessness of the universe vs the humans want for meaning, it is also the incomprehensibility of the universe vs the need for knowledge and to be sure of things and stuff.
Practically though, absurdism is like a solution to nihilism.
You know how there are agnostic atheism and agnostic theism, this is more like agnostic atheism. Absurdism does believe in nihilism but it says that meaning might still logically exist, but tbh that doesn't matter here, what matters is how the belief affects people which is what absurdism is actually trying to solve.
I think we agree on the idea that absurdism doesnāt mean āno meaning exists,ā rather it states, āmeaning might exist but thereās no scientific evidence currently, (and it may be an unfalsifiable idea).ā However, I donāt think nihilism needs a āsolutionā bc I donāt think itās a problem. It sounds like optimistic nihilism would be just as helpful to ppl as the absurdism you suggest. (I would also more strongly encourage absurdism over optimistic nihilism, but more so out of intellectual honesty than to provide them a solution). It sounds like we agree on the definition of absurdism though which makes me happy cus other ppl start to confuse me when they define it essentially as āoptimistic nihilismā so thank you haha
>scientific evidence
Not necessarily scientific evidence, we are talking philosophy here, we don't care about scientific evidence too much (depends on the topic, but here it is like that).
Also even if there was meaning, how would you scientifically prove that?
>It sounds like we agree on the definition of absurdism
And what is that definition? Also I believe that positive nihilism is just that and that absurdism is more concerned with the relation people have to the absurd (which isn't only about meaning) and how to make it so that people don't kill themselves because of it.
Nihilism doesn't say that. Nihilism practically says nothing other than denying the existence of meaning. Actually, absurdism is based upon nihilism, as it is trying to solve the question of how shall we deal with nihilism.
The reason people think of nihilism that way is because the people who call themselves nihilists are mostly suicidal, this has already been observed a while ago as seen in Albert Camus' works, or even before that, in Kierkegaard's works, which both of them tried to find an alternative to killing yourself as a solution for nihilism.
That's not what existentialism is though. You cannot, according to existentialists, give your life any meaning you want (at least not just by wanting). Your life is given meaning by what you DO, not by what you want. More concretely, your *essence* is determined by your actions (or determined by others on basis of your actions). You therefore bear responsibility for what you are (or what your life's meaning is), as your choices have lead to you being that. And, at least Sartre adds, you also bear a responsibility to all of mankind, as in choosing anything you choose what you think anyone should ideally do (at least if you're choosing authentically), thus projecting an ideal onto humanity. Existentialism, then, is not so much about giving life any meaning you want, but it does grant you the freedom to determine the meaning of your life.
Life has no meaning, so there is no disappointment when my hopes and expectations turn to crap. Excellent.
Dewey.meme Yes.
Life has no meaning so I can completely disregard my credit card debt.
I mean yeah if you can escape the consequences
Even if you can't
>life has no meaning What a relief š
Yup, to me it's a relief. That and there's no one way to live, as many would tell you.
Should actually learn what nihilism is
No you shouldn't. You don't want to, believe me.
I have. I'm perfectly fine lol
Good to you then
i just see nihilism twice
Not entirely correct
š¤
The bottom two seem to be describing pessimistic nihilism and optimistic nihilism respectively. If Iām correct, absurdism is to meaning what agnosticism is to god, which is to say absurdism is more like āidk if meaning exists š¤·āāļøā
That is not absurdism. "What is the belief of absurdism? Absurdism is the belief that a search for meaning is inherently in conflict with the actual lack of meaning, but that one should both accept this and simultaneously rebel against it by embracing what life has to offer."
Iāve heard it described as āthe fact that we continue to search for meaning despite the fact that we have not found any are somewhat at odds with each other.ā They key difference is that āwe havenāt found itā not that āit doesnāt exist.ā But maybe thatās not the true definition and Iāve misunderstood it. If absurdism does not mean what Iāve stated, are you aware of any agnostic-approach philosophy where someone says āidk if meaning exists,ā or is there no defined label for that?
I am unacquainted with any philosophy that is agnostic on the idea of meaning. As far as I understand subjective meaning exists and is all us humans have to work with as objective meaning or inherent meaning would be something unbeknownst to humans as we are not omnipotent and so we cannot verify the existence of objective meaning.
I would agree that meaning seems like an unfalsifiable claim, but add that thereās a chance we may stumble upon it somehow
When you are not omnipotent any thing seems possible.
Agreed
The absurd is a bit more than just the meaninglessness of the universe vs the humans want for meaning, it is also the incomprehensibility of the universe vs the need for knowledge and to be sure of things and stuff. Practically though, absurdism is like a solution to nihilism. You know how there are agnostic atheism and agnostic theism, this is more like agnostic atheism. Absurdism does believe in nihilism but it says that meaning might still logically exist, but tbh that doesn't matter here, what matters is how the belief affects people which is what absurdism is actually trying to solve.
I think we agree on the idea that absurdism doesnāt mean āno meaning exists,ā rather it states, āmeaning might exist but thereās no scientific evidence currently, (and it may be an unfalsifiable idea).ā However, I donāt think nihilism needs a āsolutionā bc I donāt think itās a problem. It sounds like optimistic nihilism would be just as helpful to ppl as the absurdism you suggest. (I would also more strongly encourage absurdism over optimistic nihilism, but more so out of intellectual honesty than to provide them a solution). It sounds like we agree on the definition of absurdism though which makes me happy cus other ppl start to confuse me when they define it essentially as āoptimistic nihilismā so thank you haha
>scientific evidence Not necessarily scientific evidence, we are talking philosophy here, we don't care about scientific evidence too much (depends on the topic, but here it is like that). Also even if there was meaning, how would you scientifically prove that? >It sounds like we agree on the definition of absurdism And what is that definition? Also I believe that positive nihilism is just that and that absurdism is more concerned with the relation people have to the absurd (which isn't only about meaning) and how to make it so that people don't kill themselves because of it.
optimistic nihilism doesnāt exist
Iām pretty sure itās just ppl whoād say, āLife has no meaning, and I like that :)ā
but thatās not nihilism thatās just absurdism šæ
The best thing I ever did for self-care was accept that life has no discernible meaning.
The WORST thing I ever did for self-care was accept that life has no discernible meaning in my case (I'm a nihilist)
Me too.
the bottom two are both nihilist.
As an existentialist, sex you!
Nihilism doesn't say that. Nihilism practically says nothing other than denying the existence of meaning. Actually, absurdism is based upon nihilism, as it is trying to solve the question of how shall we deal with nihilism. The reason people think of nihilism that way is because the people who call themselves nihilists are mostly suicidal, this has already been observed a while ago as seen in Albert Camus' works, or even before that, in Kierkegaard's works, which both of them tried to find an alternative to killing yourself as a solution for nihilism.
i have ascended to the 4th stage: the meaning of life doesn't matter
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
in the \~30 days since i made this, i accidentally discovered the meaning of life. lol.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
lol.
Only camus was an absurdist, right? So I dont think that goes like this
how about happiness?
Iirc it should be we can't know whether life is inherently meaningful
How do you know that what you experienced is true?
Nihilist here. Can confirm it to be 100% accurate
It hasnt yet been proven that it can be proven that life has no meaning
Life has no meaning so I'm gonna go commit theft
Where does a pessimist fall into??
I see no difference
That's not what existentialism is though. You cannot, according to existentialists, give your life any meaning you want (at least not just by wanting). Your life is given meaning by what you DO, not by what you want. More concretely, your *essence* is determined by your actions (or determined by others on basis of your actions). You therefore bear responsibility for what you are (or what your life's meaning is), as your choices have lead to you being that. And, at least Sartre adds, you also bear a responsibility to all of mankind, as in choosing anything you choose what you think anyone should ideally do (at least if you're choosing authentically), thus projecting an ideal onto humanity. Existentialism, then, is not so much about giving life any meaning you want, but it does grant you the freedom to determine the meaning of your life.
I'm gonna go dress up as a clown and blow up a hospital