Introduction

Humanity has over the years lived in a world that is hostile and indifferent towards them. As a result, majority of scholars and philosophers have raised different perspectives with an objective of unearthing the existence of these indifferences. In this process, the concept of absurdity is clearly brought out as the confrontation between human need and the unreasonable silence of the world. Absurdism in religious philosophy is concerned with the inability of human efforts to find explanation to the existence of the universe. In essence, the concept is more concerned with human in possibilities rather than the logical impossibilities.  It is brought about by the ending human quest to find about the meaning of life and its inaccessibility thereby feelings and frustrations are eminent. Most philosophical works have been carried out to offer an explanation with Søren Kierkegaard opining that it has a relation with existentialism and nihilism.

Discussion

The concept of absurdism is believed to have originated from existentialist movement which was conceived by French philosopher Albert Camus in his work The Myth of Sisyphus. This concept thrived well in after the second world war especially in France where devastation was eminent. The concept of absurdism asserts that human efforts in the attempt of finding inherent meaning will ultimately fail due to the great uncertainty and unknown in the world.  The failure to understand the meaning of such issues explains the whole concept of absurdist.

It is imperative to understand that existentialism and nihilism share similar concepts with absurdism. These concepts have arisen as a result of human efforts to confront crisis they face in lives. In essence, absurd is a belief system where people try to give an explanation of the universe according to their beliefs.  It is advisable that human race should embrace the absurd condition of human existence but at the same time explore and search the meaning in the meaningless world.

Relationship between absurdity, existentialism and nihilism

As earlier discussed, the concept of absurdity has some relationship with existentialism and nihilism. The three concepts are understood to have some prominent starting points. However, it is also imperative to understand that they reach at distinct conclusions. The most notable thing is to understand that the three concepts arise from the desire of humanity to find meaning to the meaningless universe.

Suicide and absurdity

One of the philosophical works and absurdity is concerned with the importance of life. It has been a major concern for humanity whether life is worth living or not. Humanity has been pondering on whether suicide is a problem or a question. The philosophical question that lingers in minds of people is when suicide is warranted. The question of whether to live or not is the main philosophical question concerning human existence. Different authors have agreed that the primary result of philosophy is action and not comprehension.

Philosophical approach by Camus sees suicide as a natural response to underlying issue of life itself being absurd in different perspectives. Over the years, it has been a clear manifestation that both presence and absence of life give life to condition. For instance, it is absurd to have a life full of full of anxiety trying to seek meaning in life in a meaningless world. It is also absurd to hope for some form of continued existence after death given that a deaths result is the extinction. Philosophers are also of the opinion that it is absurd to try to know, understand or explain the world as they see it as an exercise in futility.

According to Camus, the main reason as to why people commit suicide is because they judge life as not being worthy living. It is however imperative to note that this temptation of taking away one’s life is as a result of lack of philosophical reasoning. Camus argues that absurd is an experience that must be lived through, a point of departure, in existence, the equivalent, of Descartes’s methodical doubt. According to the Camus work in The Myths of Sisyphus seeks to explain the elusive feeling of absurdity in our lives. In essence, he argues that decision to commit suicide is precedence to non-philosophical reasoning.

According to philosophy by Camus, there is a philosophical alternative to suicide. He argues that, with understanding that life is absurd it is imperative to live with this absurdity. Philosophers argue that absurd should not dictate death. Humanity should at all means ensure  all those things that erase the consciousness of absurd such as religious faith, suicide and existentialism are kept at bay.

Existentialism concept has received a lot of critics especially from Camus. It is clear that existentialists have great recognition of the absurdity and meaningless in life. However, they take an existential leap of faith and attribute fabricated meaning to their existence thereby defying the absurdity in life. Camus describes this as a philosophical suicide and strongly believes anything trying to erase absurdity should be avoided at whatever cost.

Philosophers have taken the decision to commit suicide as escapism to existence.  Humanity believes that a solution can be found in terminating one’s life. It is however imperative to understand that most philosophers are against this option. According to Camus, by committing suicide one creates more absurdity since both life and death totals to absurdity.  He argues that the beauty encountered by people in life makes it worthwhile to live. People should create meaning to this meaningless universe which forms a basis for living. However, this artificial meaning to life should not erase the fact that life is absurd since by so doing, more absurdity will be manifested. The concept of acceptance without resignation is more advance in the Camus philosophy and encourages humanity to face life with courage and terms suicide as an act of cowardice.  It is therefore not advisable to commit suicide.

Absurdity and religion

Absurdity has also been manifested in the religion front. The issue of absurdity and religion is advanced by Kierkegaard who tries to explain existence in a religious perspective. He argues that existence is not absurd and has meaning.  He argues that it is necessary to have a religious acceptance to explain the existence of anything that is beyond absurd. To understand an intangible and empirically unprovable thing will require divine belief or leap of faith to give meaning on their existence. However, it is noteworthy to understand that the beliefs or leap of faith itself is absurd. Søren Kierkegaard declared faith in God as absurd despite the fact that he was a great religious person. This assertion was supported by the fact that it is impossible to know God as it is to understand His purpose.  Even theologists have asked the question on the existence of God which makes it absurd to believe that God created humanity.

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