Absurdism | How to Party at the End of Meaning ☄️

Summary

The video script delves into existentialism and absurdism, exploring the human quest for meaning in a seemingly purposeless universe. It begins with the premise of nihilism, which posits that life lacks inherent meaning. The script then introduces existentialism, suggesting that while we may not serve a divine purpose, we are free to create our own. Albert Camus, a French-Algerian philosopher, is highlighted for his belief in the 'absurd' nature of our existence, where our search for meaning often leads to contradictions and unanswerable questions. Despite this, Camus advocates for living passionately and freely, embracing the unknown and finding joy in the act of living itself. The narrative draws a parallel between the existential plight of humans and the survival story of Ernest Shackleton's crew, who maintained their humanity and optimism in the face of extreme isolation. The script concludes by encouraging viewers to find courage and contentment in the face of life's absurdities, to live fully and question the mysteries of existence without needing definitive answers.

Takeaways

• 🤔 **Existentialism and Nihilism**: The script explores the philosophical concepts of existentialism and nihilism, suggesting that life may not have an inherent meaning and that the universe is indifferent to our existence.
• 🧐 **Freedom and Responsibility**: Existentialism posits that individuals are free to create their own meaning and purpose, which comes with the responsibility of making decisions without the assurance of external guidance.
• 🌐 **The Absurd**: Albert Camus introduces the idea of the absurd, which is the conflict between our search for meaning and the universe's apparent lack of purpose.
• 🚫 **Refusal to Play the Game**: One of the suggested responses to the absurd is to refuse to engage with life as it is, which could mean ending one's life; however, the script advises against this.
• 🙏 **Leap of Faith**: Another response is to take a leap of faith, believing in a higher power or meaning that gives life purpose, even if it's not immediately apparent.
• 🕺 **Absurdism**: Embracing absurdism involves living life fully in spite of its inherent contradictions, finding personal meaning and purpose in a universe that may not have one.
• 🛸 **The Search for Meaning**: The script ponders on the eternal questions about the origin of the universe and the paradox of existence, such as why there is something rather than nothing.
• 🤯 **Paradoxes and Antinomies**: It acknowledges the presence of paradoxes in human understanding, where seemingly reasonable positions can be contradictory, leaving us with more questions than answers.
• 🌌 **The Human Condition**: The existential crisis is a universal experience, and the script uses the story of Ernest Shackleton's crew to illustrate how humans can find meaning and retain their humanity in the face of extreme adversity.
• 🎭 **Living the Absurd**: Camus suggests that we should live passionately and freely, creating our own joy and hope, and rebelling against the absurdity of life by living fully despite it.
• 📚 **Courage in the Face of the Unknown**: The script concludes by emphasizing that courage is not the absence of fear but the mastery of it, encouraging us to live intensely and embrace the mystery and wonder of existence.

Q & A

What is the basic premise of nihilism as described in the script?

Nihilism, as described in the script, is a philosophy that posits life has no inherent meaning and the world exists without reason.

How does existentialism differ from nihilism in terms of life's purpose?

Existentialism, unlike nihilism, suggests that although life may not have a divine or absolute purpose, it allows individuals the freedom to create their own meaning and purpose.

What does it mean to be 'beholden neither to Gods nor Kings' in the context of existentialism?

In the context of existentialism, being 'beholden neither to Gods nor Kings' means that individuals are not bound by societal roles or hierarchies but are first and foremost persons who are free to make their own decisions.

What is the main idea behind Albert Camus' philosophy as presented in the script?

Albert Camus' philosophy, as presented, revolves around the concept that humans are 'abandoned to freedom' and are machines hungry for meaning in a universe that is indifferent to our existence.

What are the three courses of action Albert Camus suggests in response to the absurdity of life?

Camus suggests three courses of action: 1) Refusing to play the game, which could mean ending one's life, 2) Taking a leap of faith or placing faith in something that there is meaning somewhere, and 3) Embracing absurdism, which is the recognition and acceptance of our absurd situation and living in spite of it.

What is the concept of absurdism as proposed by Albert Camus?

Absurdism, as proposed by Camus, is the philosophy of accepting the contradiction of seeking meaning and purpose in a universe that is indifferent and seemingly meaningless, and living with a revolt against this meaninglessness.

How does the script relate the story of Ernest Shackleton's expedition to the concept of absurdism?

The script relates Shackleton's expedition to absurdism by highlighting how the crew, despite being stranded and facing extreme conditions, found ways to retain their humanity and create their own sense of meaning through camaraderie and small acts of joy.

What does the script suggest as a way to deal with the unfree world according to Camus?

The script suggests that according to Camus, the way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that one's existence becomes an act of rebellion against the meaninglessness of life.

How does the script describe the paradox of consciousness and the human condition?

The script describes the paradox of consciousness and the human condition by questioning the line between the conscious and subconscious, the mechanics of consciousness, and the struggle to understand why terrible things happen to good people and vice versa.

What does the script imply about the nature of courage in the face of life's absurdity?

The script implies that courage, in the face of life's absurdity, is not the absence of fear but the mastery of it, choosing to live and create hope internally despite the unknown and the fear of the abyss.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 The Absurdity of Existence: Nihilism and Existentialism

This paragraph explores the philosophical concepts of nihilism and existentialism. It starts by defining nihilism as the belief that life lacks inherent meaning and purpose. The paragraph then transitions into existentialism, emphasizing the freedom that comes from not being bound by divine or societal mandates. It discusses how existentialism posits that individuals are not defined by their roles but by their personhood, and that every decision is autonomous. The narrative touches on the societal disillusionment with billionaires and politicians, highlighting the lack of reliable role models. It introduces Albert Camus, a French-Algerian philosopher, who shared some existentialist views but proposed the concept of 'the absurd': a world that is indifferent to human search for meaning. The paragraph outlines three potential responses to the absurd: suicide, faith in a deity or external guidance, and embracing the absurd through a revolt against meaninglessness, which Camus argues is a way to live in defiance of the universe's apathy.

05:02

🌌 The Human Condition: Paradoxes and the Quest for Meaning

The second paragraph delves into various paradoxes of human existence, such as why misfortune can befall good people and why we cannot fully control our own minds. It ponders the nature of consciousness and the line between the conscious and subconscious mind. The narrative then considers the existential predicament of being free in a universe that seems unkind and uncaring. It questions how one can find meaning, belonging, or a reason to live when faced with inexplicable tragedies, incurable diseases, and the apparent indifference of other humans. The paragraph references the story of Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition and the resilience of his crew, who, despite being stranded in harsh conditions, managed to maintain their humanity through camaraderie and small acts of joy. This anecdote serves as a metaphor for the human capacity for hope and meaning in the face of adversity, aligning with Camus's philosophy of absurdism, which advocates living passionately and freely despite the lack of clarity about life's ultimate purpose.

10:05

📚 Poetic Rebellion: Embracing the Absurd Through Creativity

The final paragraph shifts from philosophical discourse to a personal anecdote about the author's creative journey. It describes how the author, feeling a sense of loss and boredom with writing science fiction, turned to writing poetry, which proved to be a more enjoyable and fulfilling endeavor. The author's poetry book, 'Poems for the Lost,' is a reflection on the theme of absurdism and explores the author's own feelings of being lost. The paragraph humorously notes the book's brief stint at the top of a poetry about death list, attributing the achievement to the purchase of two copies by the author's mothers. The author invites readers to explore the book if they are interested, employing a light-hearted and self-deprecating tone. The paragraph concludes with a playful warning that those who do not understand the absurdist perspective are no longer friends, followed by a sign-off expressing affection and gratitude.

Keywords

💡Nihilism

Nihilism is a philosophical viewpoint that suggests life has no intrinsic meaning or value. In the video, it is introduced as a starting point to explore existential questions, with the script noting 'life has no meaning and the world is here for no reason.' It sets the stage for deeper discussions on finding meaning in a seemingly meaningless universe.

💡Existentialism

Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and subjective meaning in a world without absolutes. The script references existentialism as a popular idea suggesting 'we aren't here for divine reasons' and that we are free to create our own purpose, which is central to the video's theme of personal agency and self-determination.

💡Albert Camus

Albert Camus was a French-Algerian philosopher, author, and a key figure in absurdism. The script mentions him as someone who agreed with existentialism's view of freedom but proposed a different approach to dealing with life's inherent lack of meaning. Camus is crucial to the video's narrative as it explores his concept of the 'absurd' and how to live in spite of it.

💡Absurdism

Absurdism is a philosophy that emerges from the confrontation between the human need for meaning and the indifference of the universe. The video describes it as a 'revolt against meaninglessness itself' and a way to live in defiance of the universe's apparent apathy. It is a core concept in the script, offering a path to live passionately despite the lack of absolute truth and purpose.

💡Freedom

Freedom, in the context of the video, refers to the existential freedom to create one's own meaning and purpose in life. It is highlighted as both a gift and a challenge, as it implies that individuals are not bound by external dictates but must also face the responsibility of making their own choices, as illustrated by the script's statement 'every decision is your own.'

💡Paradox

A paradox, in the video, is a statement or scenario where two or more propositions seem self-evidently true but are contradictory when taken together. The script uses the concept to explore the contradictions inherent in human existence and the universe, such as the beginning of the universe and the nature of consciousness, which are central to the existential and philosophical questions raised.

💡Shackleton's Expedition

Shackleton's Expedition is used in the video as a metaphor for human resilience and the ability to find meaning in dire circumstances. Despite being stranded in the Antarctic with little hope of rescue, Shackleton and his crew managed to survive, which the script contrasts with the existential questions of meaning and survival, highlighting the human capacity for hope and determination.

💡Meaning

The search for meaning is a central theme in the video. It discusses the human quest for purpose and significance in life against the backdrop of a universe that appears indifferent. The script explores various philosophical perspectives on meaning, ultimately suggesting that individuals can create their own meaning as a form of 'rebellion' against the absurd.

💡Rebellion

Rebellion, in the context of the video, is the act of defying the expected response to life's absurdities, such as despair or nihilism. It is exemplified by the choice to live passionately and create one's own meaning, as described by the script: 'the only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.'

💡Consciousness

Consciousness is a key concept in the video, particularly in relation to the human experience and the quest for understanding. The script ponders the nature of consciousness, questioning where the line lies between the conscious and the subconscious, and how it contributes to the complexity of the human condition in an otherwise inexplicable universe.

💡Courage

Courage, as depicted in the video, is not the absence of fear but the ability to act despite being afraid. It is tied to the theme of absurdism, where individuals face the unknown and the inexplicable with bravery, choosing to live fully and engage with life's challenges. The script uses courage to illustrate how one can embrace the absurdity of existence and still find the strength to move forward.

Highlights

The philosophy of nihilism posits that life has no inherent meaning and the world exists without reason.

Existentialism suggests that while we may not be here for divine reasons, we are free to create our own purpose.

Albert Camus believed that we are 'abandoned to freedom', creating a sense of purpose in a seemingly indifferent universe.

Camus disagreed with existentialism's solutions, arguing instead for the 'absurd' nature of our search for meaning.

The 'absurd' arises from our desire for meaning in a universe that provides none.

Camus proposed three responses to the absurd: suicide, faith, or embracing the absurd.

Absurdism involves a full acceptance of our absurd situation and living in spite of it.

The 'revolt' against the absurd involves living freely and creating one's own meaning.

Camus emphasized the importance of living passionately and freely, despite the lack of inherent meaning in life.

The story of Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition illustrates the human capacity for resilience and maintaining hope in the face of adversity.

Shackleton's crew demonstrated absurdism by finding joy and purpose in their dire circumstances.

Camus advocated for living intensely and embracing the mystery of existence without needing to understand it fully.

Absurdism is not about providing definitive answers, but about accepting the lack of final explanations in life.

Camus' philosophy encourages us to live fully, even if we may never comprehend the 'big picture'.

The author shares a personal anecdote about finding solace and creativity in writing poetry amidst existential questions.

The author's book 'Poems for the Lost' explores themes of absurdism and the search for meaning in a complex world.

The transcript concludes with a reminder of the freedom and responsibility we have to create meaning and joy in our lives, despite the absurd.

Transcripts

[Music]

it begins with nihilism the philosophy

that life has no meaning and the world

is here for no reason and do a little

dance make absolutely no love get

incredibly down tonight suddenly

existentialism is getting popular the

main idea being okay maybe we aren't

here for divine reasons and the world

has no absolute purpose but that's kind

of nice because it means you have no

shackles beholden neither to Gods nor

Kings first and foremost you are not an

employee or a citizen or a digital Nomad

but a person first you are a person also

meaning that every decision is your own

but also meaning no one is coming to the

rescue and most importantly no one is

really in charge and it's hard not to

sympathize today with that have you

looked around where are the real adults

billionaires don't seem all that happy

politicians don't seem all that

uncorrupted and personally I won't be

taking any life advice from someone who

dresses up as a chess piece the beauty

of that anarchy though one can

self-create meaning life is not

something done to one but something one

does Albert can had other ideas though a

French Algerian thinker originally

destined to be a footballer until he

contracted tuberculosis kamu agrees with

some of existentialism's diagnoses but

disagreed about the medicine sure we're

abandoned to Freedom he granted but so

what the real problem is that we are

machines hungry for meaning and purpose

yet destined to look for it in a

universe that is nevertheless cruel

unpredictable and apparently completely

apathetic to us we will be hatched

matched and dispatched all the while

probably never working out what it was

all for don't look at me like that you

clicked on this video well kamu reasoned

there are maybe only three courses of

action available to us in such a

ridiculous situation one refusing to

play the game as in ending one's life

and don't do that please 2. a leap of

faith or placing faith in something that

there is meaning somewhere this could be

anything from believing in a deity to

Consulting a sentient melon called

Terence before making major life

decisions or three absurdism full

recognition and acceptance of our absurd

situation of the harshnesses and slights

of life of the fact that we'll probably

never attain absolute truth and purpose

and not surrendering to that in a blaze

of nihilism but living in spite of it a

revolt against meaninglessness itself as

kamu put it the only way to deal with an

unfree world is to become so absolutely

free that your very existence is an act

of rebellion because it isn't

meaninglessness that hurts Camu insisted

it's the contradiction of needing

meaning and not getting it particularly

our inability to let go of the

contradiction itself

for example ever since my teens I've

been rather terrorized by the question

why is there something rather than

nothing because what we're really asking

probably is why is there anything here

at all meaning presumably either the

universe had a beginning in time or it

had no beginning in time well alright

let's imagine everything began with the

biggest of banks 14 billion years ago

fine but if that was the beginning of

time and stuff existing then there can't

have been anything before that by

definition nothing but nothingness and

how can nothingness create stuff even if

something exotic preceded the Big Bang

like a Quantum fluctuation or whatever

well all right but that's not nothing

that's a different something and we're

back to asking the same question what

came before that and that and that

looking for the first uncaused cause

until once had simply [ __ ] explodes

okay maybe creation has been around

forever then the universe had no

beginning in time well that solved the

whole something from nothing problem

maybe the Big Bang was the next

iteration in a cycle of universes

expansion collapse expansion collapse

yeah okay but how does that work either

maybe some weird perversion of general

relativity maybe the universe creates

itself from the end of time but again

shouldn't that have started somewhere

even if the starting point is in our

future How can any system exist without

a defined beginning and yet if the

universe had one then it must have come

from literally nothing

I used to find if I thought about this

for too long it inspired the same kind

of horror as when you realize that third

joint was a bad idea why do both

positions seem reasonable and yet

completely contradictory in academic

bolloxy talk this is called an antinomy

two premises that work fine by

themselves but won't reconcile a paradox

in other words and the beginning of the

universe is hardly the only one like is

Mata infinitely divisible or is Mata

finitely divisible can you keep blowing

particles open until you reach a string

or Quark or something at the bottom of

nature that you can't divide anymore and

if so why or can you just keep peeling

the universe open like an onion

divisible all the way down and if so why

and for that matter how have all events

already happened and we just have to

live through them much like sitting

through a film where the Reel is already

there in the projector or is the present

the only true moment the past gone the

future not existing yet in either case

why or are all of our choices

predetermined by every material state

that came before us giving us no real

choice in anything how to tell the

difference likewise one day could we

conceivably know everything about how

the world works and on that day could we

be sure there wasn't something missing

ignorant of our own ignorance how would

we know then there are all the wibbly

human paradoxes why do terrible things

happen to good people and vice versa why

can't we gain full control of our own

minds where is the line between the

conscious and the subconscious are the

mechanics of Consciousness us as well

are we all of it the mechanism and the

mind because it doesn't feel that way

and finally if we've been abandoned to

total freedom and drift about in the

existential ocean captaining a ship of

one with no rules to life but those we

give it how are we supposed to find

meaning or belonging or just the Bare

Basics of a reason to live in a universe

this unkind and uncaring where

hopelessness seems inevitable pitted

daily against tragedies with no

explanation maladies defying medicine

and let's be honest other humans who are

just straight up [ __ ] how can anyone

live like this with so much unexplained

or random or totally contradictory who

wouldn't lose their minds who wouldn't

fall into nihilism who wouldn't lose all

hope and reason for being

uh Albert Camus wouldn't that's where

all this is heading obviously another

small detour first though because I

wrote this next bit while I was quite

quite High hey in 1914 Ernest Shackleton

and a crew of 27 embarked on an

expedition their plan to cross the

Antarctic by foot so off they sailed

south on the South Atlantic Ocean four

and a half stars on Google reviews for

some reason by early 1915 however their

ship the endurance was trapped in pack

ice inexorably drifting South in it soon

enough the ice kindly crushed the

endurance and sank it and soon enough

there they were lost on the Frozen

planes of nothing and so they wandered

by foot by Lifeboat for months They Came

Upon an island finally Elephant Island

the first land in 500 days but so what

they were still marooned and no help was

coming Shackleton and a few others set

off to mount a rescue effort while the

rest of the crew stayed behind to try

and well not die Shackleton found help

800 miles later returned to his crew and

everyone got home alive eventually and

even though the expedition was a earlier

technically it's remembered today as one

of the greatest Tales of Modern Survival

but what's strange is reading about how

the crew lived all those months stuck

intolerably cold waiting for Shackleton

to come back with help though knowing it

was very unlikely he would return they

put on silly plays for each other made a

tradition of moonlight walks and laughed

even laughed often a thousand miles from

anyone perhaps the most isolated humans

in the world at the time they retained

their Humanity as Alfred Lansing writes

in some ways they come to know

themselves better in this lonely world

of ice and emptiness they had achieved

at least a limited kind of contentments

they had been tested and found not

wanting which is exactly where absurdism

begins because aren't we on the ice

freezing and isolated aren't we tortured

by the same questions the stranded crew

were is rescue coming will we make it

what the hell are we even doing here

aren't we just as marooned thrown into

this era in these situations in these

bodies by physics and chaos and biology

and history and God knows what else and

expected somehow to live through it and

how do we live through it oh Camus

replies by being very very French with

passion and freedom and a Revolt with

the passion to pursue the joy of Being

for the sake of it with the freedom to

at any moment choose to continue to

choose to live to create hope internally

and with the spirits of Revolution a

rebellion against the harshness and

strangeness of existence itself nothing

will last and maybe I'll never

understand what the world is here for

what I'm here for then I'll live even

more intensely I won't just gaze into

the abyss or maintain uncomfortable eye

contact with it I'll go get laser eye

surgery so I can stare even harder you

think you're empty Abyss you should see

my [ __ ] DMS mate what would Camus do

Eat Pray Love sure but equally well

drink blaspheme shout profanities at

lampposts take up the mandolin die one's

dick blue no idea but this is the burden

of Freedom this is the weight of being

this is absurdism perhaps there's a holy

Watcher in the sky perhaps we're an

alien experiment perhaps it's all just

atoms and chance who can be sure not us

not yet but we can dance in the mystery

absurdism says with the dance as the

point all along born into an absurd

theatrical performance that makes no

sense and rebelling against a lack of

sense Itself by being better and Kinder

and weirder living inside a paradox and

still doing the dishes knowing we might

never know what it was all about and

carrying on anyway

courage isn't the absence of fear

courage is the Mastery of fear it is

saying to oneself wow that thing really

scares me I guess I'll just go ahead and

do it anyway though likewise absurdism

isn't an answer to the mysteries of Life

why bad things happen where the universe

came from or how to survive this [ __ ]

it's just asking the question oh God

what if we never achieve final

explanations what if we never see the

big picture what if we go our whole

lives without ever having known what it

was all about and replying to oneself oh

look it's a puffin it's a nice Puffin

it's a nice day

oh we're alive that's unprecedentedly

weird and cool whether it's fully

explained or not

that's uh let's go for a beer

sorry one more thing ah another

Shameless book plug huh I got very bored

of writing sci-fi last year and just at

the point I was contemplating throwing

myself out the window for something to

do I started messing around with poems

instead it was a lot more fun than

sci-fi and I was quite surprised to find

it turned into a book eventually it's

called poems for the lost because I'm

lost too which I think is quite

self-explanatory it's about absurdism

really and before I changed the subject

category it was also momentarily number

one in the poetry about death list which

for reference you can reach the top of

by selling just two copies of a book so

thanks to my mother and my mother for

that for once the digital and print

versions are both out at the same time

which is now I'll leave a link below if

you're interested anyway as is tradition

I'll leave a link below if you're not if

you do end up giving it a read thank you

ever so much and if you don't totally

understood we're no longer friends and I

despise your very being big love as ever

cheers

foreign