absurdism

Absurdism is a philosophical and literary stance that centers on the conflict between humanity's search for meaning and the indifferent universe that offers no clear answer. The central notion, the absurd, arises when the need for coherence and purpose meets a reality that furnishes none. Absurdism does not dictate a single doctrine but describes a condition and invites particular ways of living with it.

Originating in the 20th century and closely associated with Albert Camus, absurdism develops within the broader currents of existentialist and continental thought. Camus argued that the world is not meaningful in itself, yet humans persist in seeking significance. The Myth of Sisyphus (1942) is a key statement, portraying the eternal, futile ascent of Sisyphus as a condition to be confronted rather than resolved through faith or resignation.

Core ideas include the recognition of the absurd as a permanent state, the refusal to escape it through leap of faith or suicidal meaning, and the pursuit of a life lived with revolt, freedom, and personal integrity. The absurd author or hero continues to act and question, creating meaning through engagement rather than certainty. Camus’s concept of living without appeal to sacred guarantees emphasizes dignity found in perseverance and creative response.

In culture, absurdism influenced literature and theatre, notably the Theatre of the Absurd with writers such as Samuel Beckett and Eugene Ionesco. Their works depict illogical situations, circular dialogue, and destabilized plots to reflect the breakdown of conventional meaning-making.

Absurdism remains distinct from nihilism and from traditional existentialism by arguing that meaning is not given or deduced but confronted and negotiated through human activity within an indifferent cosmos.