1. Kiki Okpala Brandon Hwang
Absurdism

2. What is Absurdism?
Conflict between the human tendency to seek value and meaning of life and the human inability to find any.
Not “logically impossible" but rather "humanly impossible.“
Efforts of humanity to find inherent meaning will ultimately fail (and hence are absurd) because the sheer amount of information, including the vast unknown, makes certainty impossible.

3. Origin
19th century 
Danish philosopher, Soreen Kierkegaard, who chose to confront the crisis humans faced with the Absurd by developing existential philosophy.
The aftermath of World War II provided the social environment that stimulated absurdist views and allowed for their popular development, especially in the devastated country of France.

4. Meaning of Life
According to absurdism, humans historically attempt to find meaning in their lives.
either that life is meaningless
life contains within it a purpose set forth by a higher power - a belief in God, or adherence to some religion or other abstract concept.

5. Ways of achieving the meaning of life
Elusion
God
Personal meaning
Freedom
Hope
Integrity

6. According to Camus…
To obtain freedom in an absurd universe, one must recognize absurdity
Universe is never absolute- frees us of expectations
We must create our own meaning in life
Beauty and the reason to live
Due to lack of hope, present is most important
Living solely in the now

7. According to The Stranger…
Meursault lives for the present
Does not care about tomorrow; behaves how he wants now
Kills Arab because he felt like it
Free of any system of values
Lives as honestly as he can
Does not cry for Maman
Does not reciprocate love for Marie
Refuses religion
Wants to be certain with what he already knows

8. Camus’s Other Works The Myth of Sisyphus
Sisyphus forced to repeat same task forever
Push boulder up mountain, rolls back down again
“The struggle itself [. . .] is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy”