Theatre of the Absurd & Existentialism

Theatre of the Absurd Works depict the absurdity of human existence The efforts of humanity to find meaning in the universe will ultimately fail No such meaning exists – in relation to humanity Individual is isolated Humans historically attempt to find meaning in their lives They can find life meaningless and what we have is the here and now; OR They can fill the void with a purpose set forth by a higher power Suicide is a solution when confronted with living a life devoid of all purpose

Albert Camus Camus – Absurdity is a conflict between two ideals Human condition is absurd – Man’s quest for significance v. cold, silent universe Specific human experiences evoke notions of absurdity Such an encounter with the absurd leaves the individual with a choice: Suicide Life is too much Offers way out of absurdity Leap of faith Act with the strength of the absurd Deceiving the self Intellectual laziness Acceptance Man embraces his own absurd condition Individuals are truly free to create their own meaning The individual is the most precious unit of existence

Camus’ Absurd Hero Man can either act as a mystic or an absurd hero Mystic – appeals to some supernatural force Absurd hero A revolt against the hope of a supernatural force Refusal to hope allows him to live in the present with passion

Sartre , Kierkegaard & Nietzsche Nietzsche – Proclaimed the death of God Sartre – The absurdity of individual experience Saw rationality as a form of "bad faith“ - an attempt by the self to impose structure on a world of phenomena “Bad faith" hinder us from finding meaning in freedom Kierkegaard Deep anxiety of human existence — the feeling that there is no purpose Absurdity of certain religious truths prevent us from reaching God rationally There is no human-comprehensible purpose of God Faith in God is absurd

Existentialism Philosophical movement that claims that individual human beings have full responsibility for creating the meanings of their own lives People make decisions based on what has meaning to them rather than what is rational Central idea: Existence precedes essence One is not bound by the generalities and definitions of what “being human” connotes This is a reversal of what Aristotle believed