Absurdism is a way of thinking about life that includes some elements of existentialism. It denies the meaning of life and the belief in some higher power, which can lead to feelings of despair or nihilism. However, while absurdism may be bleak on the surface, it can also be empowering because it allows humans to own their lives and decisions.
What is the Belief of Absurdism?
Absurdism is an absurdist philosophy that argues that life itself is meaningless and without intrinsic value. It also rejects the idea that humanity has any meaning or purpose. The philosopher Albert Camus is the father of Absurdism. The belief of absurdism posits that the world is irrational, contradictory, and essentially meaningless. It does not define what is considered rational or meaningful, but simply states that the whole of the world is completely incongruous with any comprehensible ideas. Absurdist feel that life has no intrinsic meaning – it’s just a collection of random events.
Absurdism is usually expressed through nihilistic art or literature, though it can also be found in other forms as well.
Why do People Believe in Absurdism?
Absurdism is the belief that life, the world, and everything are meaningless, largely because it is impossible to know whether there is a god. Many people who believe in absurdism, don’t bother to live what they call “the good life.” Instead of trying to live a fulfilling life, they just focus on living. Absurdist usually have an attitude of accepting anything that happens as being normal.
People believe in absurdism because it is a philosophy that is all about questioning and denying traditional and accepted norms and ideas. People question the belief of absurdism by saying that life would be meaningless without any rules or order. They say that there are some things that are just not true, for instance if someone said being born was being created by God. Absurdist would argue that this idea is false because nobody can prove what has happened before the present moment.
Important writers of Absurdism
The most recognized Absurdist writers are Samuel Beckett, Eugene Ionesco, and Jean-Paul Sartre. Their work describes a world where humans are powerless, life is without meaning or purpose, and all that is left to do is to look for the humor in meaningless events. In their work, there is a lot of focus on death because it changes nothing. Jean-Paul Sartre – The renowned French philosopher and playwright who wrote “No Exit” and other works that are absurdist. Samuel Beckett – Irish writer of novels, short stories, theatre, and poetry. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969. Albert Camus – The Nobel Prize-winning French author of L’Étranger (1942), Le Mythe de Sisyphe (1942) and La Peste (1947).
Read About: What is Magical Realism and Its Characteristics?
Characteristics of Absurdism
Absurdism typically refers to what Camus called an “absurd’ man,” or someone who notices the discrepancies between their life and what they believe to be the ideal life. Absurdism is a philosophical school of thought that goes against traditionally accepted and respected theories in philosophy and art.
Absurdist’s believe that life has no meaning, and they focus their energy on writing, filmmaking, composing music, et cetera. The goal of an absurdist is to make sense of the world around them by analyzing it from a new perspective or making it understandable through their actions. There are many characteristics of absurdism, but the most important one is believing that nothing really matters.
People who believe in this philosophy often find humor in what we do and find it ridiculous. Absurdist also believe that the universe is governed by chance and randomness with no intelligent design or creator behind it all. They think that people should live with this knowledge and make their own sense of things because no other person can fully understand them.
How Can You Apply Absurdism to Your Writing?
The idea of absurdity is often misunderstood by many people. However, there are ways that you can apply this concept to your writing to give your readers a fresh take on their lives. You don’t have to be an expert or professional writer to incorporate the ideas of absurdism. All you need is a pen and paper and some words. For writers, this can be an exciting way to live in their characters’ worlds. Instead of following the basic rules for character development and plot progression, writers can focus on their writing to experiment with what happens in an absurd world.
Absurdism is all about accepting the world as it. With this philosophy, the rules are different – no matter how many times you try to change them or how much you fight for progress. Framing your writing with absurdism allows you to write in a lighthearted way about topics that may otherwise be heavy.
Conclusion
Absurdism is an existential philosophy that believes that life has no meaning. The only way to live a fulfilling life is to accept the absurdity. The absurdist will strive for nothing because there is nothing to strive for. It all boils down to one simple thing- the idea that life is meaningless. It denies the concept of free will and emphasizes how all humans are slaves to their biological needs; to eat, sleep, procreate, and die.
One of the many great thoughts of Albert Camus was “I know only that nothing terrifies me as much as the thought of living out my days without a purpose.” This shows how absurdism can be very much so frightening because life ultimately has no meaning.
Get GPL WordPress and PHP scripts from GPL Palace and GPL World
For free Udemy courses visit: Free Udemy Courses