The Dark Side of Absurdism

[@unsolicitedadvice9198]

LINKS AND CORRECTIONS: Head to squarespace.com/unsolicitedadvice to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code UNSOLICITEDADVICE Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?Link& Subscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings (and my scripts): josephfolley.substack.com/

[@CuriousCrow-mp4cx]

Hi, just watching this video I've noticed the audio sync is off and the image is stuttering. KZbin has had uploading issues over the New Year. I wonder if this is a hangover from that?

[@jamiemills2645]

An honest user name, and the philosophers addiction. Great work☯️

[@vinayaksharma1411]

Hello there Joe Can you recommend a few books to a neophyte trying to learn about logic PS great video

[@tattiesconebuttie]

Love all your videos! A small piece of hopefully constructive feedback - they would be even more watchable if you spoke a bit more softly. The delivery is perfect for a lecture theatre, but a bit hard going for a 30min video. Keep up the amazing work and sorry if that's a bit pedantic 😂

[@NeilSedlak]

It's interesting that there is confusion on his meaning. This is the clear message I got from my admittedly brief (so far) exploration of Camus and Absurdism: The only purpose is that which you create. The only Truth is that which you believe ("Truth" being an entirely different thing from reality/facts). The only meaning is that which you ascribe. This sounds uncomfortable, but it's not, it's simply absurd. Go out there and live a good, meaningful life full of purpose *in spite of* the state of the world and those in it.The characters Camus uses are for exposition of the consequences of paths to avoid, not to aspire to. They show the tragedy everyone suffers, especially those showing negative traits, which should encourage any logical being to help others. Have I missed more complexity in his arguments?

[@saranshukla]

It's no longer Unsolicited My man, I Solicit and actually invite your advices now ♥️

[@UnsubStential7]

"Advices" is not a word. Now THAT was unsolicited

[@BloodWolfXZ]

No don't do it! If you solicit his advice, his channel name will create a paradox and cause even more annoying philosophy homework for future generations!

[@finald1316]

Solicited vice ❌️ Unsolicited advice ✅️

[@YamaDrahma]

@@finald1316 Why not both?

[@copykatninja]

It's amazing how many times philosophy feels like exactly what you needed at precisely the right time!

[@BojanMilic84]

Literally 15 mins ago I was thinking about Sisyphus because I misheard the joke in a comedy podcast, and thought to myself "I should re- learn something about the myth and interpretations" and next video in the feed was this. Like the universe heard me 🙂

[@santiagoherrera5746]

@@BojanMilic84the terrors of an algorithm who knows you a little bit too well

[@alena-qu9vj]

Almost as if there was some meaning in it 😉

[@I-am-Hrut]

​@@alena-qu9vj Only the deprivation of meaning that comes with a good memory of all the other times coincidences didn't happen.

[@pabloguzman8472]

yea great for you to think Life has no meaning. Millionaires have money so they dont need Camus to cope with "absurdism of Life" as you😂

[@dukereg]

"...recognise the arbitrariness of the differences which separate us." struck a chord.

[@kidcannibal7412]

What’s truly absurd is that you have to censor “suicide” and “Hitler” because apparently Google thinks people who are watching a philosophy video on Camus can’t handle context and nuance 😃

[@TEHBILB]

surprised your comment didn’t get hidden tbf! absurd indeed

[@50percentstoned30]

that is not what google thinks

[@xaviermagnus8310]

It's about controlling language to dictate a narrative.

[@xaviermagnus8310]

​@TEHBILB The f mn ist ceo is gone now so maybe speech will become... allowed again.

[@battleb0ng420]

@@50percentstoned30 true, google basically "thinks" that it would like to never be held liable for anything bad and so it censors everything

[@Ana_MF]

Camus shows how dangerous and idea can be when transposed to reality. One thing is to face the absurd in the text where we can picture ourselves as all alone individuals and the notion that "If life is pointless, nothing is forbidden" can be immensely attractive. It seems to lead us to a path of total freedom and limitless power but in the real world we have to face the fact there are other human beings and that we, social creatures need them. Not only that, we recognize ourselves in others,,,So basically, our freedom indeed has limits and those are imposed by the existence of other human beings. To make a real rebellion against the absurd we need all humanity Nice to see a video touching The Rebel, most of Camus videos are always focused on the Myth of Sisyphus and the suicide problem .

[@soyevquirsefron990]

Yes and that’s the reason for rulers to not become a Caligula; there’s not necessarily any morality or empathy that will stop them, but the rest of society will stop them if the ruler is too harmful to us. But The best way to stop a Caligula is by not letting anyone have too much power to begin with

[@ZyRaMaxx]

so true

[@TEHBILB]

@@soyevquirsefron990topical 😬

[@slavko0]

I mean, i think this has to be the reason Camus also talked about the huge responsibility that humanity carries

[@xaviermagnus8310]

I think we are only social creatures because we need them, not vice versa.

[@JustAnotherRunner]

I literally just finished The Myth of Sisyphus a couple days ago. I was definitely swimming in the deep end in terms of my ability to comprehend. Thank you for putting out this video!

[@Psycho18710]

I just started it 😬 hoping to finish it by next Friday. All of these books I’ve been reading just boggle my mind. What a curse the path of the thinker is.

[@JustAnotherRunner]

@@Psycho18710 it took me MONTHS haha

[@Psycho18710]

@@JustAnotherRunner GREAAATTTTT. I read “The Stranger” and that took me a good month to two months. His writing is difficult to read/ understand and I’d say “The Stranger” is one of the easier ones 😂

[@Petrvsco]

I found the book is very repetitive, even if short. The fundamental principles are simple: Life is absurd and has no intrinsic meaning. The fundamental philosophical question is suicide, i.e. whether life is worth living. The subtlety that most people miss is that he is talking mostly about philosophical suicide, i.e. following any dogma that provides the “meaning” people look for. The courageous thing to do is to acknowledge that life is absurd yet worth living because it is in us to define what it means. In that sense it reminds me of what secular buddhist say: there is pain and there is suffering. You have no control on pain but can learn to deal with suffering. It also rings a bell with stoics, who argue we should not aim for happiness but fulfilment (eudaemonia). The traditional stoics complain about this because they want to turn Stoicism into a religion based solely on the word of ancient books and their interpretations of them, but I’m ranting now…

[@Psycho18710]

@@Petrvsco thank you for your insight! A well crafted response. I’m working my way through “The Stranger” at a decent pace, I’ll come back and let you know my thoughts on it.

[@un-sunskari298]

OKAY OKAY NEW VIDEO but I will keep myself from watching it as a reward for me after I study for 3 hours! So excited to see it

[@dhararry7929]

That's pretty clever!

[@apolonix656]

Camus literally saved my life when I was going through a rough depressive phase. I started from “The Fall” and then read his other works and it just brought me back to life. I started feeling like myself maybe for the first time and thats feeling was so new and powerful. After that I started learning more about philosophy and even decided to go study it in University. I still remember how heartbroken I felt when I was asked “Who’s your favourite philosopher?” and I answered “Albert Camus” and the one who asked that laughed and said “Well I wouldn’t call him a philosopher, he’s more of a publicist”. It was the first day of the semester… Watching other people also admire works of Camus gives me hope and knowledge that I’m not the only one who feels connected to problems he described.

[@jasleenkaur8500]

how did u find studying philosophy? is it difficult? do u already have future plans about what u wanna do with this degree? Im really interested into studying it but Im not that sure

[@apolonix656]

@ I mean studying philosophy for me is not a career opportunity and for now the studying part is more important than the working part . Skills that you get during those years can be useful in lots of jobs so you aren’t limited by this degree. And of course you can go with academic path and get PhD, write stuff and teach in uni. For now I really enjoy studying and I’m thinking about PhD and etc but I have few years to change my mind. It’s about what feels right specifically to you

[@cdubsb3831]

Started with Stranger when I was most suicidal, enjoyed the Plague at the height of Covid. Camus' been with me as I've flirted as a solitary and shared observer. Took me adulthood and a philosophers fiction to lead me into a punk phase. Won't claim I'm some communal peacenik, but I recognize the shared experience between me and those I oppose.

[@reevezz7391]

Thank you a lot for this great video. As someone who is guilty of oversimplifying Camus, I really needed to hear this. After my initial clash with the topic of the meaning of life I have now struggled for years to somehow come to terms and cope properly, but everything so far has either left me nihilistic and resigned or with a constant feeling that I'm just lying to myself. And even if this does not solve all my problems, words cannot describe how much hearing this meant to me. To hear Camus position on this at least clears the doubts about whether or not it is ok/necessary to support others and get supported by others in order to make it through this suffering or I'm just telling myself that because it is so incredibly hard and painful. I sincerely hope you keep on doing what you do and you deserve all the prosperity that comes your way, fellow sufferer.

[@isaakwurth8244]

Love your channel and how ecstaticly you talk about philosphy. You are what finally got me into reading philosphy and not just watching philosphy videos on youtube just by how interesting you make this stuff sound.

[@adamzeggai5506]

i genuinely believe that you posting this video is a direct message from the universe straight to myself at this point of my life haha

[@medicogirl3744]

Hey, man!!! That's what I have been thinking about camus's absurdism. I happen to read the fall first and then I read stranger. All this time I was thinking that people have not read his later works and are interpreting him wrongly. And here you are! Thank you for this video 😊

[@roryasrorri701]

21:23 100℅. I love that scene so much in the book. In my mind, I picture that chapter as this tiny garden thriving in its humility amidst all of the darkness surrounding it. Afterall, the joy of facing the absurd is only real, for me, when it's shared with others.

[@addammadd]

This book saved my life.

[@n0etic_f0x]

Movie recomedation: Trainspoting. If you like the book you do not even have to watch the sequil the conclusion you will come to is that movie so still a fun watch but also a way to recomend the first.

[@adeelahmed9038]

I can not put into words how incredibly you have explained such a complex topic... I'm amazed by your ability to relate the works together and see the bigger picture. Extremely talented, and your choice of words is just amazing 👏🏻

[@alexxx4434]

Humans are best when they unite for a shared goal, and humans are worst when they have to compete with each other

[@simonolesen3436]

Is it truly "Unsolicited advice" if I myself choose to watch the video. This is truly on of the greatest philisophical questions of our lifetime. Jokes aside, I really enjoy the content, so keep up the good work and happy New Year to you

[@JesusFanatic]

Stop saying "i wont be able to cover every aspect of XYZ philosophy"... dude we dont know how to read.. why do you think we are listening to you... we cant fact check you... we are illiderate

[@CreativelyChaoticTM]

Real

[@anteous1383]

Fr

[@TheDionysianFields]

Can you slow down and repeat all of that?

[@danieldiri2969]

Thought I knew how to spell illiderate thanks for that

[@normalouis8593]

This seems like an interesting comment, going to copy it into a text to speech ai.

[@easy8figure]

"life is like a gamble no one can win" - madarame baku

[@menace2society759]

The later part of his works remind me of the saying “we’re all alone in this together”

[@adamborowicz7209]

he was deluding himself about this not all of us are in the same boat, really

[@Xion_eg]

Cammus' philosophy could be summed up with "Doing something meaningful even though everything is pointless. It's not letting meaninglessness hinder you from doing something meaningful despite knowing it is pointless. Like a final last stand, or the famous phrase "you're going to hell with me." A suicidal final attempt of rebellion. Against a meaningless world. Cammus' philosophy reminds me a lot of the modern day "stay hungry" mindset, or the "no rest days/ the work isn't done." Doing something knowing it won't change anything. The belief that problems are gonna keep coming even if you've already solved a hundred. The pursuit of meaning despite knowing everything is meaningless, including the thing you find meaning in... It's really interesting. I think this captures the human experience quite well. A species smart enough to percieve existence, yet unadvanced enough to understand it. We cling to things we put faith, hope, or belief in. In pursuit of meaning. I think I am one of the person that cammus is talking about. One indifferent to the meaninglessness of the world yet is aware of it. Yet still moving forward and trying to achieve things I hold important. I don't think there is any other way than this way honestly. One would go crazy if they focused too much on the true meaning of the world. Speaking from experience. I think cammus is also showing us how to live carefully in the present. Where the past and the future are taking a back seat, yet you refuse to lose sight of them. If one fully immerses themselves in the present, then the past and the future would be of no importance to them. The things that are crucial for survive, and thrive in the world. Past = lessons Future = Goals Throwing all that away for The present = experience... Then can you really say that you are "living?" I've yapped on for too long now, I'm writing this comment at 13:20 of the video and got an idea that I wanted to write here in the comments. That's all from me, peace ✌️

[@johnnytass2111]

It is Absurd to pursue meaning if one presupposes that the Cosmos, and Life, is meaningless. But if one presupposes that the Cosmos, and Life, is meaningful, simply by the act of an Observer observing anything outside itself is an act of meaning, then the pursuit of meaning becomes paramount. Viktor Frankl, surviving the death camps of WWII and witnessing those who lived for meaning even in that doomed environment, wrote about it in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning.

[@Yeahyoucanchangeyourhandle]

*Camus

[@user-jg2uq8vx7d]

Beautifully explained 👏👏

[@Satyaan.]

Yoo are the one where i entered with no doubt due to the channel on You Tube, with over ruling my mind to leave "First impression is the last impression" on Ambedkarnama, young philosopher😎❣

[@soyevquirsefron990]

First I’ve heard about Camus. Seems like I agree with him a lot. In 2020, I was telling people “the only good thing about this crappy year is the unity of knowing that everyone else in the world is having their worst year also and we should all cut each other some slack”

[@PSculto]

impressive... what an impressive presentation. I've read The Stranger, The Plague, and the Myth of Sisyphus, and understanding how to relate them has never been a simple task. But now I got it. Continue as you are...

[@shaunmclorie5929]

My favourite KZbinr talking about my favourite Philosopher. Astoundingly good video as always.

[@CatsnCoasters]

Great timing. I literally just bought The Myth of Sisyphus last week to add to the collection.

[@kingkhrysesxiii5942]

I wrote a poem about my beliefs and I feel it lines up with this in a weird sense. I'm also currently finishing an entire book about what it means in detail. "I wondered, therefore It became; It pondered, therefore I Am. But if I Am the answer, Then what Is the question? Am I It, or Is It I? I know that I don't know; But It Is thought upon, so I Am. I Imagine that I know Everything; just not all at once: the less I know, the more Imagination Manifests. Because If Nothing I Imagine Matters, Then It doesn't Matter what I know; But If It Matters what I think, Then Everything I Imagine Matters. The True Power of Manifestation, Is the Wisdom It takes to be able to Imagine what I don't know."

[@ethandoingstuff1433]

do you love crystals?

[@kingkhrysesxiii5942]

@ethandoingstuff1433 not exactly, too many people claiming stuff for their own incomes off the idea of what might or might not be factual in any realm of understanding and if any of it were true, it's just too far lost in all the new age hippie healers that don't actually do anything outside of placebos. I don't disregard the fact that some of it could be next to true though, if you understand what I'm getting at. I'm not a superficial person, but I'd consider myself a philosophically spirited person.

[@amazingminds_]

very well written

[@kingkhrysesxiii5942]

@@amazingminds_ thank you, I truly appreciate it

[@urlovekir]

very beautiful poetry my friend

[@-error405-3]

this is such an interesting analysis of absurdism and i don't think i've come accross anything like this before thank you for always providing us with quality content :)

[@assumptaai]

Thankyou for helping me through my latest existential-crisis-love/hate disaster of an absurd relationship by reminding me about Camus

[@seanrilian]

I believe I've made this comment on another video before, but it feels fitting here as well. The most beautiful thing about life having no objective meaning or purpose, is that I get to decide those things for myself.

[@NovaScotianBelle]

This is my favorite of all your videos so far. I can't thank you enough!

[@Insert6character4name.]

For Christmas I got the myth of Sisyphus, I haven't gotten around to reading it quite yet, but am very excited to. Watching this video most certainly furthered that intrigue.

[@nikoletamedvedeva2391]

Watching your channel has been nothing but a wonderful experience😊 glad it found me 🥳

[@Mururm]

You cover such good stuff and with such a good personality voice and inflection so glad I'm alive rn to see your videos thanks dog

[@daelaenor]

Now, that's a worldview I can get behind -- attacking the problem of meaningless by leaning into humanity's social nature, which would simultaneously serve to strengthen it. Food for thought.

[@RafaeAhmad-q7g]

You need to start a podcast man, these videos are great!

[@MarijaVujkov]

I was meditating on that quote and thinking about this myth for days, this video came just in time!!!

[@asyn-chronous]

You need to speak about Emil Cioran and the heights of despair.

[@murilo9992]

Thank you for this approach! Everywhere you look all you see is having a cup of coffee and Sisyphus

[@theeb6088]

My unsolicited advice: play the game(s) The Talos Principle 1 and 2. For context I’m in my mid 20s and recognize I am going through an intense yet transformative part of my life. Your channel and others like it have helped me to ground myself and devise my own philosophies about life and our human condition. Specifically the second game invigorated my desire to actually begin to live; without the illusion of a grandiose fundamental meaning to the universe. We, the conscious beings who observe it all ARE the meaning. Anyways, I’d love to see your thoughts on the games and ideas expressed in them. Love your content man.

[@davidlozier8606]

This video has helped me better understand absurdism and that it is not a philosophical position for me.

[@SonzBros]

Thank you for another very interesting chat! I will be reading a lot more Camus. That's for sure

[@luctuose]

Relevant video, thank you for bringing up these philosophical topics - I have so little reason to be here in this dark, cold and lonely world. But I'm still here. Pain and misery and still too much of a coward to end myself. Existence was something I never wanted to be a part of.

[@asdfasdf-dg2qx]

In this dark cold and lonely world , be sure to make hot coffee whilst talking to a friend about something fun We are our choices, we both shape and are shaped by them So be happy that you are alive my friend, for it is only in life that you are granted the privilege of choice

[@Alex-vm6ef]

Been there, step 1 is to stop telling this story about yourself

[@pixelenjoyer5865]

Incredible analysis, bravo, thank you so much for the content you make. Happy new year.

[@abilim-mima]

I stumbled upon your channel by accident, and I don't regret it at all.

[@TheTangential]

I went through such a weird phase after my dad died. I went through extreme rage. When my mom got diagnosed with a brain tumor I went into a like aburdism sort of frame of mind after months of anxiety.

[@3jolucaspro351]

This video is soooo good, i was so engaged throughout, ts crazy. Great job!!!

[@onetruetroy]

Terrific video. Meaning is simple for me. I beat the odds of not existing. I’m in awe of the universe, understand nothing, and will enjoy the time I have here. I encourage everyone to do the same. - Interestingly enough, in all your videos I’ve watched, you don’t actually offer advice except, maybe, to seek out wisdom independently. Admirable philosophy.

[@ativjoshi1049]

A wonderful and very clarifying video essay.

[@islandsedition]

Sounds like the problem stems from our step change from seeing things happen because "when X happens then Y happens" and translating that to "seeing Y happen because X happens." It's a subtle difference, but one suggests there is meaning behind the sequence of events.

[@FeralPhilosophy_mw]

Just linked Camus to wright lifting in a video :-) Now that’s absurd :-) Great work as ever mate

[@maxhancock4953]

31:06 “a wound in the potential unity of all mankind.” Hits hard.

[@kayyhrf]

for me it’s about learning to coexist with the indifference the universe shows - rebelling is the action done in the face of the indifference even if done mentally solely

[@alena-qu9vj]

Have you ever heard that universe is just reflecting what you are emitting? Do you show any concern towards the universe?

[@PhilosoJitsu]

Can Emotions Provide a Rational Foundation for Morality in an Absurd World? I really appreciate this video and the way it dives into Camus’s philosophy of absurdism in such a clear and easy-to-understand manner. It challenges me to think critically about how atheists like myself can provide moral grounds in a world where values seem arbitrary. The tension between embracing the absurd while also finding philosophical grounds to condemn figures like Hitler or Caligula is a profound issue. I find myself questioning Camus’s ideas on solidarity, even though I resonate with his concept of 'lucidness.' This concept aligns with my belief that existential awareness can lead to empathy and possibly authentic morality, which is a piece of the puzzle in defining "good" from a subjective perspective. However, I can’t help but view his acknowledgment of universal suffering as a potential motivation for solidarity as a risk of falling into a genetic fallacy. While I understand that shared suffering can inspire empathy, it seems rooted in emotion, which might just be a result of someone's unexamined evolutionary social mechanism acting out. As a result, it feels somewhat inauthentic and an escape from the absurd. What if we examined our emotions, not merely reacting to them but viewing them as moral reasonings themselves, strategies for navigating our absurd reality that we could harness authentically? This perspective could place greater value on emotional experiences and provide a subjective yet rational foundation for solidarity-one that embraces empathy, existential awareness, and humanistic values without resorting to a systematization that claims universal shared values in human suffering. I believe this framework could help us confront the "problem of evil" in absurdism and offer a more nuanced understanding of our shared humanity. Regardless, this channel continues to educate and provoke me in an immensely helpful and entertaining way. I’m excited to explore these ideas further!

[@ezshottah3732]

Camus has always resonated with me and your analysis have helped to understand why

[@rakaiageddes]

Fantastic, Unsolicited Advice! Thanks❤

[@crazygreek6341]

Many people forget, that Camus was an Anarcho Syndicalist. And I think, that his political beliefs were conclusions of his philosophical once. Community, we all are together, and thus we need to get things better, together, are kinda cornerstones of anarchy.

[@OhmaNarad]

I love this channel, it makes me think!.

[@unsolicitedadvice9198]

Thank you! That's very kind of you

[@viennna]

Love your channel, I've been waiting for a video on absurdism! 8)

[@Liisa3139]

I have been a friend of Sisyphus for a long time. It just so happens that I have a garden on a very stony land, so I'm lifting and carrying and rolling stones often. I don't know if anyone will ever find my work meaningful in any way, but I can tell you that the work itself is very satisfying. Heavy as hell, but satisfying, because the physical work in itself feels so good in the body and totally silences the mind of all useless (possibly philosophical) thoughts. Camus just did not know nor understand Sisyphus properly.💪🤗

[@johndavis2399]

This monologue is quite engaging and superbly reasoned. It would be more believable if there was a guitar hanging on the wall behind him.

[@mysteryman2215]

Rick Sanchez is the perfect example for absurdism and for kamu

[@lizellevanwyk5927]

Thank you for this, Joe. It's very timely.

[@lindapowell9688]

This video has brought me great joy!

[@dad102]

You are very good at breaking this down.

[@LeoRobillard-d4x]

Peace be with you, my brother in Scarcity; united against her, we shall know the divine joy of a common enemy.

[@863arthur]

This is a very good analysis 💯

[@AlmostEthical]

I like Camus's ideas and that was a terrific and enlightening breakdown. I just wonder if the tension between our desire for meaning and the seemingly uncaring nature of the world is a perspective problem. The world does in fact care, and we are the parts of the world that do the caring. Of Camus' three broad possibilities, the happiest on average seem to be those who commit philosophical suicide. Tradition is the solving of old problems, now forgotten. I'm not religious, personally, just noting what seems to be happening.

[@vedantkathe7711]

Absurd coincidence,today is death anniversary of Camus

[@Briggsby]

I don't think you understand what this is to me right now. A few days ago I did a *shitload* of psychedelics, and when I came down from the peak I was sobbing with joy because free will was an illusion, and the only thing keeping us from being happy was ourselves. Everything made sense, all the knowledge I had gained in my life clicked into place, and over the next few days I talked to my friends constantly, discussing and refining the idea. You have just described almost the totality of it, as I found it when I looked deep enough at myself. I wish that this had come out several years ago, and popped into my feed. Life makes sense now, and your video is an affirmation that I'm not itterly insane, just finally, finally able to start working towards truly being free.

[@luxeayt6694]

I had a psychedelic experience recently as well. I had the opposite experience. I was overwhelmed by how free I felt. I could achieve so many things, or end it in a flash. It's all in my hands.

[@li__on6403]

What is keeping us from being happy are not really ourselves. There are systems in our society resposible for the meaningless devisions between us. Capitalism can only stand, as long as humans compete against each other. The reason for its existence is not mere ignorance though. The most powerful are actively defending this hierarchy, as they stand at the top. And this is not because they are all evil. It is because climbing to a position of power in itself means defending this system. In capitalism our devision is the fuel for the rockets that are supposed to take all of us to space.

[@sebimiha9424]

I guess the biochemical reaction caused by nothing 11 billion years ago predetermined you to type this comment. Philosophy-when the irrational world tries to become rational. 😂😂 I suggest you apply these postmodern philosophical lifestyles to your life for 10 years and see if you can remain consistent in self-joy, happiness, family relationships, and standing for something good in this broken society>))

[@luxeayt6694]

@sebimiha9424 So determinism is wrong because believing it's true leads to an unhappy life? Or do you suggest that even if it's true we should lie to ourselves and create beliefs around what's useful? What's your solution?

[@thienyetan2035]

@@luxeayt6694 love this. flipped the script.

[@WOCassity2]

I would think the greatest rebellion against meaningless it to choose to create meaning within existence itself. I do see the absurd and I choose to make my life and the pursuit of more knowledge as a creation of meaning.

[@menace2society759]

Yes 100%

[@VirginMostPowerfull]

The entire philosophy is meaningless, it's just a coping mechanism. And I'm not saying this to discourage you but rather to introduce you to actual meaning and value in Christianity as Jordan Peterson explains and is himself seemingly converting to. His wife Tammy was miraculously healed and is now Catholic.

[@WOCassity2]

@VirginMostPowerfull you're free to have your own opinion.

[@VirginMostPowerfull]

@@WOCassity2 I never noticed the gun point so why tell me? Engage with the substance of what I said please.

[@zezefulfule]

Very good pods❤❤❤

[@FutureproofOrbit]

Brilliant as always!

[@Frank.M.H]

True Detective - Rust Cohle, the "solution" for Camu, the man who lives in knowledge of the absurd and still acts for the good.

[@wiledman2430]

Wonderful video

[@AlexGreat87]

One of the most important point of Camus, and hope this is not an oversimplification from myself, it is to combat, fight against the absurd, even if it is a losing battle. Because the battle in itself might have meaning, even if it is a losing one. Rebelling is at the core of Camus philosophy, if you do not include rebellion, then you don't really fully understand Camus.

[@willbishop5754]

I felt like at the end of the stranger Meursault found comfort in solidarity like Camus later characters but instead of solidarity with his fellow sufferers he found it with the universe because they were both deeply indifferent.

[@TEHBILB]

why limit our solidarity to other conscious beings, particularly when it’s impossible to know who or what is conscious other than ourselves

[@CreativelyChaoticTM]

YEEEEESSSS my favourite philosopher too yippieeee!

[@lolachlih3136]

Great video as always thank you!!

[@TheYashakami]

As someone that has never felt it necessary for life to have meaning beyond the meaning I give it, this is a really cool concept. I don't quite understand the necessity of suffering in the face of meaninglessness though. From my perspective meaninglessness offers freedom and opportunity, not pointlessness.

[@WorstPrinciples]

This is the best Camus video I’ve ever seen 👏🏽

[@noahbaden90]

One must imagine the person explaining Sisyphus being happy, happy.

[@alena-qu9vj]

Funny, so many of our best and brightest intellectuals have such a strong mimetic desire to be a new Camus ...

[@Free-h2o]

I love you

[@thecoolguy7213]

I always found Camus interpretation of suicide being a rejection fascinating, it made me question and journal as to why it cannot be seen as a rebellion as well if one has the intention of ending their life as a rebellious act is this not just as rebellious as living in defiance of the absurd? It always fascinated me and I'm probably and most definitely getting camus philosophy wrong here lol, much love ❤

[@TEHBILB]

I’m new to it myself but I think it’s a form of capitulating to the contradiction, letting it defeat you, much in the same way as the “philosophical” version (grasping at faith as a crutch despite it not actually resolving the problem via reason)

[@taken_over3416]

One of the issues with the popular conception of Camus is that he, as you said, has to introduce solidarity. It doesn’t arise naturally but more out of a practical necessity. At that point, and if nothing has any meaning, why should I rebel against the absurd or even acknowledge it to begin with? To a degree, even the early philosophy has this question but I think it is easier for ideas that seem more consistent to be spread and popularized.

[@nataliapidduda8114]

Good one Jreg, you showed those solitary absurdist heros

[@valentinbonnarde9345]

The one true persisting misconception about Camus is that there is indeed meaning to be found in life, of the personal kind. The comment section shows that this misconception persists. I mean, Sisyphus pushing his boulder is a stark image. He is the absurdist character yet do you truly believe he thinks his activity is meaningful ? According to Camus, he does not, and he is fully aware at all times that his activity is meaningless, yet he is the absurd hero. You don't have to love Camus but don't misunderstand this.

[@simphiwe_stb]

I’ll come back to watch this

[@li__on6403]

The first time I heard about absurdism the word „rebellion“ was mentioned once or twice. Since then I have always been left somewhat frustrated with everyone else talking about absurdism, because that aspect was never mentioned. I was just starting to think that I misunderstood absurdism. I‘m honestly kind of glad that I didn‘t. To me, this aspect has always been one of the most meaningful. Also I think it is really interesting how small step from this to anarcho-communism is (sorry for being an annoying internet lefty in disguise lol). I mean freedom and solidarity are pretty much the core principles of that ideology. What is missing is only the realisation what it is that’s hindering humans from being free and living in solidarity. I think the answer to that are the hierarchies in society, which devide us and rob so many of their freedoms. It is tragic that we have to fight against those at the top of these hierarchies, but it is absolutely necessary that we fight against these hierarchies. I think there is another tragedy in this though. That is, that those at the top are often defending these hierarchies, even though they are human just like everyone else. Communism is often confused with equallity. However, funnily enough, Marx and many other communists were way more concerned about freedom.

[@Mysteriusxarxes]

Hierarchies are an inevitable part of human existence and even communication itself. If you eradicate formal hierarchies, it's my view you would merely create a space for informal hierarchies to appear. Informal hierarchies would be more difficult to regulate and balance, as the "order" would be largely invisible.

[@thesquishedelf1301]

@@Mysteriusxarxesthis is ultimately my personal problem with anarchism and anarcho-communism. Order does not exist without Chaos, and Chaos does not exist without Order. It only becomes the new Order of things. Should you ever truly abolish those hierarchies, something would fill that void. It is exhausting to forever keep fighting to never let them know your next move. Eventually an order arises out of the chaos, even if only for the sheer chaos that a new order now brings. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth always fighting for freedom… but it’s a fight that you have to be aware of the futility in. Otherwise you just create a new avenue for repressing freedom.

[@li__on6403]

@ That argument is certainly not uncommon. Why do you think that hierarchies are inevitable? I really am curious. I have thought about this a lot, because to me this question is one of the most important ones there are. I do think that hierarchies are bad for sure. Wether they are inevitable or not. And I do agree with you that informal hierarchies are probably worse than formal ones, however I really do believe that this is not a zero sum game. To be able to discuss hierarchies that aren‘t formal, one has to think about what hierarchy even is. The definition that I find the most useful is: "Hierarchies arise, when one person can control the conditions for life of another person, without them having to risk their own conditions for life“. In other words, when business as usual for one is a matter of existential concern for another. This definition also works for groups or institutions and not just for people. I think this is useful because if we think about hierarchies like this, a power imbalance does not necessarily have to be a hierarchy. I don‘t see why it should be impossible to structure society in such a way that nobody can fundamentally control another’s conditions without changing their own. One way to achieve this is by interconnectedness. Then, anyone’s conditions would be linked to your own. Even if one person were to have more abilities than another, in this scenario, this would just mean that they are better able to make everyones lives better including their own. Obviously, such a society would have to actively defend itself against the possibilities of hierarchies arising in it. But I don‘t see why such an undertaking should be impossible in principle

[@alexxx4434]

The claim of absurdism that the life is meaningless is like throwing the towel, giving up untangling the life's complex mess

[@haleffect9011]

Hmm, I completely disagree with it though, it feels like a call to action to create and build meaning for yourself instead of looking for it outside of you.

[@alexxx4434]

@@haleffect9011 Absurdists don't call to make meaning, the call to enjoy life DESPITE its total meaninglessness. I think it's existentialists that call to make meaning.

[@n_kas5812]

Good point, this is often brought up in the discourse, but i tend to agree with Camus' idea of philosophical suicide, being basically anything other than the absurd revolt. Wouldn't you agree that the absurd revolt, which is choosing to live in the unbearable circumstances of meaninglessness, is way harder, than choosing to follow a religion or existential principles, which just tell the person what to do and how to live, making them ignore the factual reality of the absurd. I think giving up is choosing religion or any subjective meaning you create, because its just an escape from the daunting reality, its philosophical suicide. And absurdism is living within that reality, refusing to give up, revolting.

[@alexxx4434]

@n_kas5812 But a human being needs meaning, psychologically speaking. If everything is meaningless, sure you can exist, enjoy life pleasures even, but would not care about anything. Life without meaning or purpose is just empty existence.

[@n_kas5812]

Not necessarily, this is exactly what Camus writes about, that we can live without meaning. Also I think we agree then that absurdism isnt giving up. There is also the interpretation you could take of absurdism stating that the revolt against meaninglessness, is meaningful, thus finding meaning, but that's obv contradictory, but I don't think that contradiction matters in practice

[@Jasminehaydon]

Hey consider doing a video on Percy Walker. I'm sure you'll love doing one on him.

[@luxeayt6694]

Love your channel

[@unsolicitedadvice9198]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it

[@juane.7628]

A comment on what you said in the introduction about Camus thinking that we have to be passive in front of the absurd: In the Mith of Sisyphus Camus talks about the rational, the irrational and the irrationality. The rational and the irrational are categories that our mind use to comprehend reality even if it's irrationality. This means that reason is oppoused to irrationality and not to the irrational. We can think with reason about reality with the idea of a square and understand how irrational it is to think about a circled square; none the less, the world itself is imbued with irrationality since a square does not exist anywere. The reason is always fighting with the irrationality and trying to give meaning where there is only a void. This means that reason is always active in front of the absurd.

[@AlexRamos-mx2nv]

Best KZbinr

[@adcaptandumvulgus4252]

Well at least you figured it out so good for you.

[@adinaaamir1157]

I feel like the biggest way to understand Camus’ philosophy is looking into the role he plays in the Algerian Freedom Movement. At the face of the absurd world, rebellion is actually to make meaning, care, take responsibility to reduce the suffering of others.

[@davidwensboposaric5498]

Life of Brian's Crucifixion scene is truly absurd. Yet, together they sing and whistle.