ABSURDITY

In philosophy, "the Absurd" refers to the conflict between (1) the human tendency to seek inherent

value and meaning in lifeand (2) the human inability to find any. In this context absurd does not mean "logically

impossible", but rather "humanly impossible".[1] The universe and the human mind do not each separately cause the

Absurd, but rather, the Absurd arises by the contradictory nature of the two existing simultaneously.

Accordingly, absurdism is a philosophical school of thought stating that the efforts of humanity to find inherent

meaning will ultimately fail (and hence are absurd) because the sheer amount of information as well as the vast

realm of the unknown make total certainty impossible. As a philosophy, absurdism furthermore explores the

fundamental nature of the Absurd and how individuals, once becoming conscious of the Absurd, should respond to

it. The absurdist philosopher Albert Camus stated that individuals should embrace the absurd condition of human

existence while also defiantly continuing to explore and search for meaning.[2]

Absurdism, existentialism and nihilism share similar concepts, with common theoretical template and has its origins

in the 19th century Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, who chose to confront the crisis humans faced with the

Absurd by developingexistentialist philosophy.[3] Absurdism as a belief system was born of the European

existentialist movement that ensued, specifically when the French Algerian philosopher and writer Albert

Camus rejected certain aspects from that philosophical line of thought[4] and published his essay The Myth of

Sisyphus. The aftermath of World War II provided the social environment that stimulated absurdist views and

allowed for their popular development, especially in the devastated country of France. It is an ideological outlook

that presents the meaninglessness of life after the great aftermath of the Second World War which led to extreme

effect on modern life.

The philosophy that encompasses the absurd is referred to as absurdism. While absurdism may be considered a

branch of existentialism, it is a specific idea that is not necessary to an existentialist view.It's easy to highlight the

absurdity of the human quest for purpose. It's common to assume that everything must have a purpose, a higher

reason for existence. However, if one thing has a higher purpose, what is the reason for that purpose? Each new

height must then be validated by a higher one. This evokes the common theological question: if humankind was

created by God, who or what created God? (And, if God answers to a higher power, to what power does that

answer?)Søren Kierkegaard, although religious himself, declared faith in God to be absurd, since it is impossible to

know God, or to understand His purpose. In The Myth of Sisyphus, Camus described suicide as the most

appropriate and rational reaction to the absurd — but admitted that this is not a very rewarding or worthwhile

reaction.Critics of absurdism tend to focus on two areas of the philosophy. The first is the proposition, as Camus

described, that life's absence of meaning seems to remove any reason for living. Camus answers this with methods

of living with the absurd: through coping or through revolt — and by pointing out that this lack of purpose presents

humankind with true freedom. Others consider the theory itself to be arrogant, stating that although the purpose of

life may not be apparent, that does not confirm that it does not exist.