r/Absurdism

Sometimes I get this strange feeling when I see people completely revolve their existence around being “a girl” or “a man.”

Like everything becomes about being pretty enough, masculine enough, desirable enough, aesthetic enough, alpha enough.

And honestly, I understand why it happens. Identity makes existence feel more structured. It gives certainty in a very uncertain life. Humans want to feel seen, wanted, and like they belong somewhere.

So this is not hatred toward people at all. I see the pain and conditioning underneath it.

But still, something in me feels sad seeing humans reduce themselves to a role so deeply that they stop seeing themselves beyond it.

You are not just a girl.

You are not just a man.

Before all of that, you are a living being experiencing existence itself.

I don’t know. Maybe this sounds abstract, but it gives me this bittersweet feeling.

I’ve been thinking about something while writing a short literary sequel to Sadegh Hedayat’s The Blind Owl, which itself is inspired by Kafka's works.

In Hedayat, the circle closes. The narrator sees himself becoming the old man. The self, the shadow, the woman, the corpse, the old man, everything collapses into the same nightmare.

My story asks a slightly different absurdist question: what if the circle does not break, but the narrator still refuses to become the old man? The story is still dark, but it is not nihilistic. The narrator does not find a grand meaning, but finds a direction towards responsibility.

So, my question is:

Can a work still be genuinely absurdist if it ends not in despair, but in a chosen responsibility? Or does that move it away from absurdism and toward existentialism?

Would appreciate hearing thoughts from this community.

It’s interesting to notice how some people simply prefer to see the glass half full. Take my brother, for instance: he views my constant questioning as the ultimate recipe for unhappiness. He claims these thoughts are useless because, ever since I started thinking this way, I appear to be 'unhappy.' I think what he’s implicitly saying is that ignorance is a virtue. Reading between the lines, I get the feeling he used to think just like me at some point, but to avoid an existential collapse, he finally chose to become an optimist. What intrigues me the most is that he talks about it as if it were a conscious choice—but the difference is, I feel it, and that feeling is exactly what prevents me from choosing otherwise.

This is the best thing I have written all year. It’s also the dumbest thing I have ever written in my life. Enjoy!

I have three questions for the chat:

1. How often does the thought of life being meaningless cross your mind each day? I'm trying to curb my nihilistic tendencies by being more present in everyday life and not engaging in these philosophical discussions with my own mind about the meaning of life.

2. Does realising that life is meaningless give you a more fearless attitude? Do you recover from failures faster? Is taking risks and chances easier because it won't matter in a century? We are here to just pass time, so fuck it, we ball!

3. Has absurdism improved the quality of your life? Has life become more of a game where you unlock experiences?

It's fair enough to read Camus or Nagel and understand the absurd logically, but it never really hit me until I experienced it independently in my own life. What was the experience that uncovered the Absurd for you?

Update: mod is a Nazi, please DM me your takes, I'm interested in hearing your experiences :)

I first read Sartre's "Nausea" before I had any real thoughts about philosophy. For me, it was just an interesting book about how a person can feel in this familiar world — aside from the whole awareness of meaninglessness, of course.

But if you try to talk to people about philosophy, most of the time, they're not interested. I'm not talking about special terms or authors' names. Just a simple conversation about thinking. Rarely anyone wants that.

On the other hand, there are places where people do nothing but talk about philosophy. And there, they don't hold back on terminology. No explanations given.

I understand that language. But what's the point? To remain misunderstood for your whole life? To shove every possible meaning into a single word? I used to do that too, I admit. It felt proud. But it was stupid.

If philosophy is only supported by philosophers, then it's nothing more than a club. You gather your team, study the history of thought, and get lost in it.

If not — then where is the entry point? And what's the point of dividing people into philosophers and non-philosophers?

By context my family is devouted Christian and so most of my childhood I thinked like a christian, life has a meaning and moral is god, but not anymore and its a big change of world view.

When I was younger, I did lot of sports like running, volleyball, gym etc, but now its harder cause I feel hardly any motivation on having a proper sleep schedule, or eating like at all and Im not really motivated to do anything.

Ofcourse I understand that its only partly due to the fact that I view my life pretty much pointless, but ofcourse it might be due to some other things like depression or just being tired of living.

I have understanded that absurdism strives to have a positive attitude towards life, so thats why Im interested.

So basicly how do you my fellow absurdists motivate yourself to take care of your life, working, exercising, staying healthy and doing chores?

So I’ve been heavily involved in Philosophy since first completing my Bachelor’s under the mentorship of a leading philosopher at my university (can’t say who to not dox myself). I’ve practically read it all from Camus, O’Brien, and Ionesco, yet I recently saw a post here that made me realize that absurdism is far from as organized as its other philosophical brothers. What I mean, is that, despite being an extremely widespread philosophical belief, it doesn’t have any symbols that immediately are recognizable as purely absurd. The Buddhists have the Buddha, Confucianists have the Bell, Stoics have the Bull/Scales, Abrahamic religions have their own identifiable set of symbols, Nihilism has 0 > 1, yet Absurdism lacks any identifiable symbols that easily distinguishes the symbol-bearer as an absurdist. With that being said, do you guys know of any symbols used to represent absurdism?

There doesn't seem to be much of any universal symbol, was hoping to make a ring/necklace or get a tattoo one day.

I really feel like Sisyphus. My life being a constant struggle to find any meaning yet there being nothing to find; really resonates. So I hope it can be a reminder to just value the present, my relationships and the fact that I am just having an experience.

Wondering if anyone else had something interesting to represent it with. Even if it's a simple design or one of just pushing the boulder up the hill.

If you feel comfortable please I'd love to see pictures!

Let’s take the grim reaper for example, do you consider this character to be violent?

Someone laying in a hospital bed on their way out and someone killed in a shooting are both forms of death but one is violent and one is natural.

I have read the stranger and not too long after that I read man's search for meaning. I have many questions, as someone who got to be an outsider just because not caring for my family you know i don't make sure whether they're good or not etc . Many people look at me with a discuss look when i tell them that i don't want to talk or to see them today and of course they get upset.

I have write an article about Absurdism and i'll post it here. Man's search for meaning for me a book that works for kids. I have a question can i write an article that includes both of these books or just the stranger?

Male 18

One day I think im a Christian then one day Im wondering If there is one and f it lets be an atheist. So much information on both sides and I know Im not the only one thats been through this has anyone made it out? My belief came about when I was 16 asking my self the famous question “why does this matter” so my belief has always been based on evidence, weird coincidences (Christians would would say is big God), and personal experiences ( maybe my brain was freaking out I try to tell myself).

I have to say I did grow up Christian but forgot all about that when seeking truth maybe im just a victim of my enviornment and weak minded who knows pretty spooky

I want/need/believe whatever I should do should come naturally and not forced and both really are natural to me and similar in whats meaningful in my life/ pursuits. like the “God” isnt there just myself but it feels right and I would in that moment identify as a Christian. I dont know what Im chasing or subconciously desiring its always changing. Still though I dont feel like I can let go for long without urging to figure out why I left and see it as objectively (or maybe subjuective to myself) dumb and immature after sitting with for a while. Its like I know what isnt even proven by facts. Whos to care about my thoughts but this is how I feel dont we all follow how we feel? (does your belief come naturally?)

What pushed you over the edge either fact, book, study, experience , whatever to choose what you are today and how to maintain your way of thinking?

I have to say though the Im in now of life is trying to figure MYSELF out so its like I want to make a decision but its so much information out for all sides it always changes when studying it. I usually use Claude Opus 4.7 to study topics break down books (Im going to need to read myself looking back on it) but it just wasnt doing the job.

I really seek information that is beneficial for me, or seeking I dont let just everything get my attention. I paused reading the Bible and the I want to read the books recommended here but dont want other people ideas to influence me I just want to follow how I feel but Im fluctuating.. (is this even the right play but who are you to tell me?)

One last thing its also like whatever ims tudying and researching I try and see all the point of views on everything how to stick with one and not switch I can see so many ways to live maybe Im just Christian for right now. Just follow what I think is right I tell myself

Hopefully you guys care or this post gave you enough meaning to reply or something idk. I’ve posted this same post in the “Nihilism”, “Absurdism” “Existentialism” forums if you’re weird like me and interested. These are the same questions I would send Claude Opus 4.7 i might just do it here instead.

(no “Christianity” forum I don’t believe most will not understand where Im coming from)

Ambiguity is very annoying but knowledge is like a drug and its just who I am this is me being 100% transparent

At first, I thought I should live to follow my dreams and become successful doing what I love. Later, I became more hedonistic because I realized that happiness shouldn't be saved for later, but there's a problem with that. If I create my own meaning by seeking pleasure, it will stop being fulfilling, and creating meaning by striving to acheive goals, hoping to become happier in life will also fail to bring fulfillment. Happiness doesn't last forever. If all I care about is success or pleasure, how can I be content with normal life? Gratitude is something that people teach a lot, but forcing gratitude doesn't work for me. I tried forcing myself to find meaning in daily life, but I couldn't. All I cared about was the next exciting event. Then I discovered absurdism. I'm no longer forcing myself to be grateful for my life. I'm just living and experiencing, knowing that everything is inherently meaningless, but I live fully and passionately.