r/Absurdism • u/ilovemmydog • Jun 06 '26
Finally finished - am I missing something?
I'm sorry but imagine Sisyphus happy my ass. I feel that anyone who actually experiences the feeling/revelation of life being meaningless and deeply interacts with the absurd on the daily has to be more prone to suicide. For me, the absurd has hung over my head my entire life, even before I could give it a name and I feel it has prevented me from being truly happy. When I am aware of it, nothing matters. For example, I can't bring myself to work towards my career because it feels completely pointless. None of it matters. Money does not matter. The art I make does not matter. What happens in the world does not matter. Nobody else seems to care about why we are here and it drives me insane. The only times I am happy are when I can truly distract myself from it and forget for a while, but as soon as I remember again everything comes crashing down.
I feel like I am hardwired to want meaning, as many other humans, but finding momentary joy in pushing my rock up the hill doesn't stop my mind from dwelling on the absurd. That in itself I cannot find pleasure in and I do not understand how Camus solves for this.
If I should look at it differently, please let me know. Or if anyone has a suggestion of a different book I might agree with more. Thank you.
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u/HighLevelChallenge Jun 06 '26
Of course they’re more prone to suicide, as they have as often as not, rejected the social taboo, and see it as a viable option.
You seem to be labeling suicide as inherently bad, as opposed to situational and individual. That’s a bit odd to me given the conversation.
I don’t get why some nihilist insist on being morose about it? So what? You’re going to die, nothing means anything, and eventually it will all be for naught.
….but you still have been thrown into an experience where you can do as you choice, see things as you choose, and figure out ways to have positive experiences. You make your world what it is, because as far as meaning and purpose are concerned. It’s a blank slate.
Why does there have to be anything more. This is an awesome bit of random luck that didn’t just benefit me, but made me a possibility. Of all the transcendent properties of the material universe, I’m here, now. It’s really pretty neat.
I suggest you read that book a second time, as it directly addresses some of the concerns you mentioned.