absurdism
Embracing life's irrationality
Absurdism is a philosophical stance holding that human attempts to find meaning in the universe are fundamentally futile—not because meaning doesn't exist, but because we can never know whether it does.
Associated with Albert Camus, absurdism differs from nihilism by suggesting we should embrace life's meaninglessness rather than despair over it.
The term also describes art and literature that depicts irrational or illogical situations: Theater of the Absurd, Beckett's absurdist plays.
French absurdist author-philosopher
- SisyphusCondemned eternal boulder roller
- meaninglessnessLack of significance
- existentialismPhilosophy stressing self-created meaning
- nihilismRejection of objective meaning
futility · Kierkegaard · Sartre · revolt · human condition · metaphysical · paradox · incongruity
- IonescoAbsurdist dramatist from Romania
- KafkaCzech-Jewish literary surname
- PinterEnglish theatrical author
- Waiting for GodotAbsurdist drama about fruitless expectation
Rhinoceros · The Trial · playwright · tragicomedy · allegory · symbolism · metaphor · dissonance
Unintelligible speech or writing
- balderdashSenseless talk or writing
- illogicalContrary to valid reasoning
- incoherenceFailure to make sense
- senselessnessAbsence of reason or purpose
irrationality · preposterousness · ridiculousness · bizarreness · outlandishness · surrealism · Dada · randomness
Absurd, laughable situation
- slapstickExaggerated physical humor
- buffooneryLudicrous or silly conduct
- parodySatirical imitation
- satireMockery exposing vice
zany · screwball · ludicrous · clowning · wit · jest · spoof · caricature
Undermining established authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- iconoclasmAttacking revered traditions
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- transgressionViolation of law or code
anti-establishment · countercultural · provocative · disruption · dissent · radical · unconventional · avant-garde
Camus
French absurdist author-philosopher
- SisyphusCondemned eternal boulder roller
- meaninglessnessLack of significance
- existentialismPhilosophy stressing self-created meaning
nihilism · futility · Kierkegaard · Sartre · revolt · human condition · metaphysical · paradox · incongruity · ontology
Beckett
- IonescoAbsurdist dramatist from Romania
- KafkaCzech-Jewish literary surname
- PinterEnglish theatrical author
Waiting for Godot · Rhinoceros · The Trial · playwright · tragicomedy · allegory · symbolism · metaphor · dissonance · dramatic
gibberish
Unintelligible speech or writing
- balderdashSenseless talk or writing
- illogicalContrary to valid reasoning
- incoherenceFailure to make sense
senselessness · irrationality · preposterousness · ridiculousness · bizarreness · outlandishness · surrealism · Dada · randomness · chaos
farce
Absurd, laughable situation
- slapstickExaggerated physical humor
- buffooneryLudicrous or silly conduct
- parodySatirical imitation
satire · zany · screwball · ludicrous · clowning · wit · jest · spoof · caricature · farcical
subversion
Undermining established authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- iconoclasmAttacking revered traditions
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
transgression · anti-establishment · countercultural · provocative · disruption · dissent · radical · unconventional · avant-garde · rejection
absurdismtheism
Belief in deity
teleology · essentialism · cosmic purpose · intelligent design · transcendentalism
absurdismnihilism
Rejection of objective meaning
defeatism · resignation · despair · suicide · fatalism
absurdismrationalism
Reason as knowledge source
cosmic order · grand narrative · absolute truth · determinism · orderliness
- absurdist humorComedy rooted in meaninglessness
- absurdist comedyComedy rooted in meaninglessness
- absurdist playTheater of purposeful incoherence
- absurdist jokesComedy embracing meaningless chaos
- absurdist fictionGenre defying rational interpretation
- absurdist theaterDrama depicting existence as meaningless