Nihilism vs. Existentialism vs. Absurdism — Explained and Compared
The Living Philosophy・2 minutes read
Modernity in the 19th and 20th centuries led to the emergence of Nihilism, prompting the development of existentialism and absurdism as responses to the lack of objective meaning in life. Existentialism focuses on humans creating their own meaning in a meaningless universe, while Absurdism urges individuals to rebel against meaninglessness and embrace the struggle of life without false consolation.
Insights
- Nihilism emerged in response to the realization of no objective meaning in life during the 19th and 20th centuries, leading to existentialism and absurdism as ways to address this crisis by defining personal meaning in a seemingly meaningless universe.
- Absurdism, exemplified by Albert Camus, encourages individuals to rebel against the inherent meaninglessness of the universe by embracing the Absurd and finding happiness in the struggle of existence, rejecting false consolation and emphasizing the importance of living authentically in the face of a lack of objective meaning.
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Recent questions
What is Nihilism?
Nihilism is the belief that life has no objective meaning.
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Summary
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"Modernity, Nihilism, and Existentialism: A Summary"
- Modernity in the 19th and 20th centuries led to the emergence of Nihilism, a crisis of meaning due to the realization of no objective meaning in life.
- Nihilism prompted the development of existentialism and absurdism as responses to the lack of objective meaning.
- Religious beliefs provided an objective meaning to life, such as in Judaeo-Christian traditions and Buddhism/Hinduism, but modernity led to the dissolution of this objective meaning.
- Influential works like David Strauss's "Life of Jesus," Ludwig Feuerbach's "The Essence of Christianity," and Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" contributed to the secularization of society.
- Nietzsche's "God is dead" proclamation symbolizes the undermining of objective values and the crisis of Nihilism.
- Existentialism, exemplified by Jean-Paul Sartre, focuses on humans defining their essence through existence, creating their own meaning through actions in a meaningless universe.
- Absurdism, as articulated by Albert Camus, addresses the tension between humanity's search for meaning and the universe's inherent meaninglessness.
- Camus presents three options for dealing with the Absurd: suicide, philosophical suicide through faith in doctrines, or embracing the Absurd and living with integrity.
- Absurdism rejects false consolation and urges individuals to rebel against meaninglessness by holding the tension of the Absurd.
- Sisyphus, the mythological figure, embodies Absurdism by symbolizing the love of life, the eternal cycle of absurdity, and the rebellion against meaninglessness.
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Embracing Absurdism: Sisyphus' Rebellion and Happiness
- Sisyphus embodies Absurdism by rebelling against death and the gods, defying the fundamental order of things, and ultimately finding happiness in the struggle towards the heights, as depicted in Albert Camus's "The Myth of Sisyphus."
- Absurdism, in contrast to Nihilism and Existentialism, focuses on rebelling against the meaninglessness of life, affirming the struggle, and enjoying life for what it is, rather than seeking or creating objective meaning through choices.
