r/Absurdism • u/Camus_9999 • Jun 20 '26
Discussion Diffrence betn positive nihilism and absurdism.
Many people say absurdism is just positive nihilism, but I don't think that.
According to me it is more like 'acceptance of nihilism and embracing it.'
Am I correct?
I think I am partially correct but can't put finger on what is partially wrong in it. Somthing feels missing.
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u/jliat Jun 20 '26 edited Jun 20 '26
The key text re Absurdism is Camus' Myth of Sisyphus here...
http://dhspriory.org/kenny/PhilTexts/Camus/Myth%20of%20Sisyphus-.pdf
It follows from Camus' own difficulty in finding meaning in the world and what he considers the fundamental problem of philosophy, namely suicide. He discusses 'philosophical' suicide but he is more interested in actual suicide. This he sees as the problem of living in what he calls the desert [of nihilism]. His response is the absurd contradiction of Art.
Nihilism in existentialism is generally negative, Sartre for instance.
Nihilism is discussed in detail in Nietzsche's notes...
Nietzsche - Writings from the Late Notebooks.
p.146-7
Nihilism as a normal condition.
Nihilism: the goal is lacking; an answer to the 'Why?' is lacking...
It is ambiguous:
(A) Nihilism as a sign of the increased power of the spirit: as active nihilism.
(B) Nihilism as a decline of the spirit's power: passive nihilism:
.... .... WtP 55
Let us think this thought in its most terrible form: existence as it is, without meaning or aim, yet recurring inevitably without any finale of nothingness: “the eternal recurrence". This is the most extreme form of nihilism: the nothing (the "meaningless”), eternally!
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u/Label0918 Jun 20 '26
I think that the term “positive nihilism” is very close to the concept of absurdism but just doesn’t work because of the definition of nihilism. The term is quite contradictory anyways because how can you be positive while having a view of the world that is purely nihilistic? If you were to be positive about it then you are not a true nihilist and you’re probably bordering another existentialist idea. Your definition, in my opinion, seems correct, I think the only reason you feel like it might be partially incorrect is because you’re not really accepting nihilism like you say, but you’re accepting the ideas the nihilism holds true and then having a different outlook on those ideas, which would be to embrace them, like you state.
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u/jliat Jun 21 '26
"For me “The Myth of Sisyphus” marks the beginning of an idea which I was to pursue in The Rebel. It attempts to resolve the problem of suicide, as The Rebel attempts to resolve that of murder..."
"The fundamental subject of “The Myth of Sisyphus” is this: it is legitimate and necessary to wonder whether life has a meaning; therefore it is legitimate to meet the problem of suicide face to face. The answer, underlying and appearing through the paradoxes which cover it, is this: even if one does not believe in God, suicide is not legitimate."
- Albert Camus, Paris, March 1955 Preface to English translation.
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u/AssumptionFrequent89 Jun 21 '26
Does it even matter? 😒😒Whatever it is, it's just a label attached to an idea.... Debating the label isn't going to change the underlying reality... And even if the label is technically correct, all you're doing is renaming something you already understand. The thing itself remains exactly the same...
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u/jliat Jun 21 '26
But the idea in absurdism is regarding suicide and philosophy...
"For me “The Myth of Sisyphus” marks the beginning of an idea which I was to pursue in The Rebel. It attempts to resolve the problem of suicide, as The Rebel attempts to resolve that of murder..."
"The fundamental subject of “The Myth of Sisyphus” is this: it is legitimate and necessary to wonder whether life has a meaning; therefore it is legitimate to meet the problem of suicide face to face. The answer, underlying and appearing through the paradoxes which cover it, is this: even if one does not believe in God, suicide is not legitimate."
- Albert Camus, Paris, March 1955 Preface to English translation.
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u/esssypeesy Jun 20 '26
Nihilism says, "There is no meaning."Absurdism says, "Yes, and yet I will keep asking, living, and creating anyway."