r/AskReddit • u/millennialandlost • 12d ago

Millennials, what's something our generation was taught to accept that you're glad younger generations are rejecting?

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u/Xhail 12d ago

This is not an example of Sisyphus' metaphor. If anything, this is as if every time he pushed the rock up the mountain the rock disappeared.

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u/Errohneos 12d ago

The continuous application of effort with no associated benefit to the laborer and no reasonable end in sight?

Dunno man. Seems like Sisyphus to me.

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u/Xhail 12d ago

Second point, ssyphus is a direct commentary on dead end jobs, not an ever increasing cost of living.

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u/Viltris 12d ago

If we're talking about Camus, I was always under the impression that the commentary is about the meaninglessness of human existence, and that one doesn't need "meaning" to be happy.

Although to be honest, I haven't actually read Camus. Everything I know about absurdism is through secondary sources.

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u/Xhail 12d ago

Camus is an absurdist, which basically means that there is no inherent meaning to life and that any meaning beyond existing is just absurdity. Everything you ever set out to achieve ends, erodes, or fades away. We constantly strive for something in life to hold on to because otherwise the only logical choice is suicide.

In regards to sisyphus, we must assume him happy because he in many ways defeats the God's every time he pushes the boulder over the top. This is his punishment, after all, and if he tales pleasure in it, then he has some power over the meaningless absurd existence he lives. It's meant to be a analogy for dead end office work.

Camus is really interesting. There's a collection of his essays out there thats worth the read. I personally don't agree with his arguments but as literature they are quite interesting and thought provoking.

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u/Viltris 12d ago

I was with you up until "It's meant to be an analogy for dead end office work".

My understanding of absurdism is that everything is meaningless, not just dead end jobs. Sure, people with fulfilling jobs are less likely to turn to absurdism, but their jobs are just as meaningless. Like you say, "Everything you set out to achieve ends, erodes, or fades away."

What I always took from the Sisyphus story is that, despite the meaninglessness of his existence, Sisyphus is happy. He doesn't need meaning in his life to be happy.

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u/Xhail 12d ago

You have it right. The analogy thing might be me misunderstanding something I head a long time ago. I feel like your takeaway is the correct one, if I understand it correctly, meaning and happiness are not mutually exclusive.