1. Theatre of the Absurd & Existentialism

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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