I am happy...
I finally know what I believe, and I never knew the name for it, I couldn't feel happier right now:
"Absurdism is a philosophy stating that the efforts of humanity to find meaning in the universe will ultimately fail because no such meaning exists (at least in relation to humanity).
The most common definition of "point" is that something (an object, or simply living one's life) must have a higher purpose to justify it. However, for that higher purpose to have "a point", then it, too, must have an even higher purpose. These "chains of justification" never come to an end; therefore, nothing can be considered to have ultimate purpose. If they did come to an end, they might still not satisfy us. For example, for a cow to know that its higher purpose was to be eaten would probably not satisfy it.
Humans historically attempt to find meaning in the universe, according to Absurdism. Yet, the world is irrational and does not conform to the standards or wishes of mankind and so this search is inevitably in vain. The search traditionally leads people down one of two paths: the conclusion that life is meaningless, or the filling of this vacuum by some other means, such as belief in God or adhering to a religion. However, the above argument can be applied again: What is the purpose of God? Kierkegaard believed however, that there is no knowable reason for the purpose of God: that's what makes faith in God absurd.
Another solution is simply to reject the definition - to instead define that "the point of life is to live." This is not a solution to the above problem, but a different problem. People may create meaning in their own lives, which is not ultimate meaning but provides something to do. However, Camus insists that one must always maintain an ironic distance between this invented meaning and the knowledge of the absurd lest the fictitious meaning takes the place of the absurd.
Camus argues for the path of accepting that life is essentially meaningless while continuing to live. He introduces the idea of acceptance without resignation and asks if man can "live without appeal", defining a "conscious revolt" against trying to dodge the absurdity of the universe. But in a world without higher meaning or judicial afterlife, man becomes absolutely free. It is through this freedom that man can act either as a mystic (through appeal to some supernatural force) or an absurd hero (through a revolt against such hope). Henceforth, the absurd hero's refusal to hope becomes his singular ability to live in the present with passion, forever responsible but never guilty."
Also, "Having taken that step, it informs every moment of my life. I'm not greedy. I have love, blue skies, rainbows and Hallmark cards, and that has to be enough. It has to be enough, but it's everything in the world and everything in the world is plenty for me. It seems just rude to beg the invisible for more.
Believing there's no God means I can't really be forgiven except by kindness and faulty memories. That's good; it makes me want to be more thoughtful. I have to try to treat people right the first time around. "
Quotes come from Wikipedia's definition of Absurdism and Penn Jillette's essay for NPRs "This I Believe...."
"Absurdism is a philosophy stating that the efforts of humanity to find meaning in the universe will ultimately fail because no such meaning exists (at least in relation to humanity).
The most common definition of "point" is that something (an object, or simply living one's life) must have a higher purpose to justify it. However, for that higher purpose to have "a point", then it, too, must have an even higher purpose. These "chains of justification" never come to an end; therefore, nothing can be considered to have ultimate purpose. If they did come to an end, they might still not satisfy us. For example, for a cow to know that its higher purpose was to be eaten would probably not satisfy it.
Humans historically attempt to find meaning in the universe, according to Absurdism. Yet, the world is irrational and does not conform to the standards or wishes of mankind and so this search is inevitably in vain. The search traditionally leads people down one of two paths: the conclusion that life is meaningless, or the filling of this vacuum by some other means, such as belief in God or adhering to a religion. However, the above argument can be applied again: What is the purpose of God? Kierkegaard believed however, that there is no knowable reason for the purpose of God: that's what makes faith in God absurd.
Another solution is simply to reject the definition - to instead define that "the point of life is to live." This is not a solution to the above problem, but a different problem. People may create meaning in their own lives, which is not ultimate meaning but provides something to do. However, Camus insists that one must always maintain an ironic distance between this invented meaning and the knowledge of the absurd lest the fictitious meaning takes the place of the absurd.
Camus argues for the path of accepting that life is essentially meaningless while continuing to live. He introduces the idea of acceptance without resignation and asks if man can "live without appeal", defining a "conscious revolt" against trying to dodge the absurdity of the universe. But in a world without higher meaning or judicial afterlife, man becomes absolutely free. It is through this freedom that man can act either as a mystic (through appeal to some supernatural force) or an absurd hero (through a revolt against such hope). Henceforth, the absurd hero's refusal to hope becomes his singular ability to live in the present with passion, forever responsible but never guilty."
Also, "Having taken that step, it informs every moment of my life. I'm not greedy. I have love, blue skies, rainbows and Hallmark cards, and that has to be enough. It has to be enough, but it's everything in the world and everything in the world is plenty for me. It seems just rude to beg the invisible for more.
Believing there's no God means I can't really be forgiven except by kindness and faulty memories. That's good; it makes me want to be more thoughtful. I have to try to treat people right the first time around. "
Quotes come from Wikipedia's definition of Absurdism and Penn Jillette's essay for NPRs "This I Believe...."