The great futility has two parts. First, the absurd, ultimate, complete futility of life. Second, the system aesthetics of a futile life. Albert Camus believed that the only worthwhile philosophical question was whether or not to commit suicide. This philosophy of the absurd, or absurdism, evolved out of existentialism, I think. Anyway, he thought that most people in history have either realized that the world is completely devoid of meaning and have killed themselves, or else have created a false hope in an artificial meaning in the world via religion or some similar faith-based system. The third option, though, is to perpetually be conscious of the ultimate futility of life, but to continue to live anyway. The person who does this is the absurd hero. According to Camus, there are three types of absurd heroes: the rebel, the Don Juan, and the artist. I haven't been able to find much more about those three types of heroes, but they sound interesting. If you find anything, or know anything, let me know.
How many people believe that life is futile? I think I do. Strangely, though, I don't feel saddened by that realization. In fact, I feel strangely happy. It's a freeing thing to not have to find meaning in things... we strain so hard to find purpose and meaning and what was "meant to be", and stopping that is a bit like drowning and then realizing that you didn't need air to breath after all. It's a dream world.
What exists post-futility, post-absurdism? I think a beautiful system of aesthetics emerges. Life becomes a gallery with blank walls, and you can put anything on them and call it art. There is no need to think about anything other than whether or not the things on the wall, and the floor, and hanging from the ceiling look good. If something looks bad, throw it out. It's all about style, intention, spirit, enjoyment, grace, and taste.
About a year ago I was involved in a car accident that very easily could have cost me my life, but I received not even a scratch. Instead of coming to the seemingly popular realization that life has a renewed sense of value, I found myself wondering, "What if I had died? What if we all died, not eventually, but simultaneously? Would it be good, or bad, or would morality be a moot point following the cessation of all human life?"
I haven't decided, but it seems I'm taking the third way out. You play the game, have fun, take risks, embrace beauty, help others. I'm not sure how this integrates with my preexisting worldview...perhaps those who embrace futility should improve the world for those who don't. However, I don't like my thinking that futilism/absurdism would almost necessarily lead to a nihilistic view of morality.
The only work of Camus' I've read was The Stranger and that was a long time ago. What does he propose as an ethical foundation?
Continuing, it seems that whether you believe that nothing has meaning, or rather than abandoning meaning or purpose, you believe that "that which is meant to be" is congruent with "that which is," one would arrive at the same conclusions. Would life be just as futile if we can do nothing but that for which we are purposed?
To use your words, this has been on my personal zeitgeist for a while and I'm still trying to figure out why.
Posted by: Erik Peterson | Sunday, 13 November 2005 at 01:12 AM
I don't think Camus was a nihilist, even though I think he was a fan of Nietzsche. One description of the absurd hero that I read is that "To rise each day to fight a battle you know you cannot win, and to do this with wit, grace, compassion for others, and even a sense of mission, is to face the Absurd in a spirit of true heroism." That's Sisyphus, basically.
So I don't think it's necessary to abandon passion, empathy, and striving for ideas simply because everything is futile. Everything can be justified by the same ideas as before, but they hang off of our personal desire to rebel against the absurdity rather than give up (like suicide, it would be cowardly in Camus's opinion).
Rebellion and revolt are a big part of the third way out, I think... the rebel is even one of the three absurd heros. So, I guess I disagree that abandoning meaning means that you accept things as they are. Since it's all futile, you can enjoy making things better... there's no duty or guilt involved, so the motivation has to come from somewhere else.
Posted by: Erik Benson | Sunday, 13 November 2005 at 01:48 AM
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