Absurdity of the Meaning of Life - Essay Example

Absurdity of the Meaning of Life Every day, human beings are searching and trying hard to discover the meaning of life. The big question is, `why do we live? `. This question remains unanswered, and we are always searching for an answer. Everything we do narrows down to trying to get the meaning of life. The meaning of life seems to be unclear and, therefore, the worth of living is also absurd. However, Camus and Nagel have given different views on the meaning of the life. This paper aims at giving an insight into the works of Nagel and Camus, as well as their response to absurdity of the meaning of life. Camus calls his argument in the Myth of Sisyphus, the absurdity of the meaning of life. He explains that the absurdity results from the fundamental conflict between what we want and expect from the universe and the reality in the universe (Nagel 55).Camus proposes that to find what one expects from the universe as well as the meaning of life; one needs to put great hope and trust in God and not in this world. Failure to put ones faith in God will make one reach a conclusion that life is meaningless. The view of life as meaningless would probably make people commit suicide. In connection to this, Camus offers two-stand points: either to put our faith in God or result to committing suicide after perceiving life as meaningless and not worth living. Additionally, Camus also offers an alternative of accepting the fact that life is meaningless and living with that fact. Camus sees the absurdity of life as a confrontation or conflict between ones desires, clarity and significance on one-hand and the silent universe on the other hand. Nevertheless, Camus reasons that there are certain life experiences that evoke absurdity notion in ones life (Ayer 45). These experiences present people with three alternatives; have faith in God, commit suicide or recognition. Though, of the three alternatives, recognition stands out as the only defensive alternative. According to Camus, if one opts to commit suicide, this is a clear indication that life has no meaning and that it is not worth living. Suicide offers the most immediate solution to absurdity in life as committing suicide terminates life, as well as a place one held in the society. Absurdity can not only provide suicide as an alternative but can also make one have a leap of faith in God (Nagel 65). Such an encounter makes one realize that there is more to life than just a rational life. So as to have a leap of faith, one has to start with the recognition and appreciation of the fact that absurdity exists. This helps one get power to acquire a leap of faith in God which has no expectations. Camus debates that having a leap of faith in God is not absurd but a rejection of both the physical, philosophical suicide. Consequently, a person has the option of embracing absurdity and living with it. Despite this, Camus points out that we have the power and freedom as well as the opportunity to give some meaning to life although to achieve this we first have to recognize that life is absurd. We have the freedom to bring some meaning to life by making decisions for ourselves. From the myth of Sisyphus, Camus observes that the absurdity in life has its consequences; revolt, passion as well as freedom (Nagel 67). Being conscious makes one transform an initial invitation to death into a rule of life. By revolting, Camus says that one refuses to commit suicide, and instead searches actively for meaning in life. By freedom, Camus refers to the absence or lack of captivity by religious commitment or the moral codes set by the society. Passion according to Camus is the best experience in life. With a passion, we live every moment fully such that there are no regrets. Camus believes that human beings, from tradition, have always sought to get meaning in their lives. This search results to a meaningless life or a purposeful life with the power lying with greater power (Ayer 47). This power is God or some non-concrete concepts. Nevertheless, Camus puts forward elusion as an alternative to fill the void between escaping and embracing absurdity. Camus outlines that elusion is a defect in religion as well as many schools of thought. Eluding absurdity of life meaning means that one can never face it. However, God gives meaning to life, but then; what is the importance of believing in God? No human being has ever comprehended the importance of God and, therefore, believing and having faith in God becomes absurd. Camus solves this by arguing that by believing in God, one denies themselves contradicting between humanity and the universe. This is philosophical suicide and thus, this narrows down to one of the alternatives of absurdity of the meaning of life; suicide. This implies that the absurdity leads to neither belief in God nor denial of God. All the same, Camus proposes that we can create meaning in life which despite not being the ultimate reason for living makes life worth living. Rejecting belief is seen as a refusal believes in anything beyond the absurd meaning of life. Hope motivates one to live every moment to the fullest (Ayer 47). Camus views morality as a firm sense of what is right or wrong and integrity as a sense of honesty and consistency in ones actions and decision. Camus also views the absurdity of the meaning of life as an attempt to escape from the absurdity while facing it hostility against it. Hence, Camus concludes that the absurdity in the meaning of life cannot be reconciled and due to this, we should try to love with the absurdity. Moreover, existing with the absurdity regularly means one is aware that the meaning of life is absurd. This may be helpful to us since it nay assist us live life to the fullest by enjoying each and every moment. In his discussion, Camus provides an example of for different people; first, a seducer goes after his passion for the moment. Second, the actor brings together the interests of many people to one stage while a conqueror focuses all his ability to pursue his political passion. Lastly, the artist makes up everything in the whole world. This clearly portrays how we can control the absurdity in the meaning of life. First, in every situation, we have a choice regardless of how confining the situation maybe (Nagel 78). Camus gives an example of a dying person. In such a situation, one has a choice of how to die. One may wish to die a forgiving person or an unforgiving person. Secondly, choices have consequences and, as a result, we must be ready to face the outcomes of our decisions. Camus argument brings out various facts clearly; people choose death when they find themselves entangled by circumstances in life that make the meaning of life absurd. He clearly brings out absurdity as the separation between us and the real world. Nagel, on the other hand, lays down the basic understanding of the absurdity and later on argues that there are reasons to make one think that such absurdity applies in our lives. He argues that this absurdity makes life lose meaning. Nagel argues that the absurdity is the main cause of the problem of the meaning of life. To solve the problem of life, the argument needs to be one that will prove that absurdity is false and does not exist (Lurie 50). Nagel argues that there are good solid grounds for absurdity in our lives. He cites four reasons for absurdity in our lives. First, he purports that in many years to come, our existence will not matter. This means then that whatever we do now, will be meaningless in a million years to come. Despite this, it does not matter to us that in a million years to come what we do now will be meaningless. Second that compared to the universe human beings are so small. To emphasize this point, he argues that even if human beings were large, absurdity would still not reduce. Third, Nagel outlined that human beings are mortal. This means that we all await death and hence all that we know will be meaningless after we die. Nonetheless, Nagel’s argument is that even if we were immortal and we lived forever, absurdity of life would still remain. Finally, Nagel observes that our lives are an open journey with no certain destination and direction. He refers to this as a chain of justification that is in a satisfactory way. To lay emphasis on this point, Nagel uses an example of our lives where we study and work to earn money and pay for survival needs and maybe support family members and further their studies. He asks the question, `what is the end?" This is an indication that our lives lack a final value. This chain all the same supports the reason for the daily activities in our lives but fails to support the termination of our lives satisfactorily. Nagel depicts that the absurdity is due to a discrepancy between pretension and reality (Lurie 100). He explains that the absurdity comes because of a collision between how seriously we take our lives and how open we are to doubt. This means that there is always a point of view outside the point that we currently hold. Nagel links the problem of the meaning of life with the epistemological problem of radical skepticism. Skepticism arises from the ability to understand our limitations as human beings. He explains that epistemology skepticism is not an agonizing issue unless we make it be. According to Nagel, people who are unaware of true situations do not experience absurdity. This is because absurdity arises when there is a collision between the reality and the situations we currently are in. In conclusion, Camus in my view provides the best position and response to the absurdity of the meaning of life. In his case, he holds that the absurdity results from a conflict between what the world offers at the moment and what we expect the universe to offer. According to his argument, this conflict drives people to one of three destinations; a leap of faith, suicide or recognition. According to him, the circumstances we go through in life can increase or evoke the absurdity of the meaning of life. However, Camus points out that through the choices we make we have the power to add value to our lives. We either can choose to commit suicide have faith in God or recognize the absurdity of the meaning of life and live by it. We can only bring some sense to life by living every second to the best and embracing integrity as well as morality. Camus thus provides a very firm and steady basis that proves the existence of the absurdity of the meaning of life. His arguments clearly convince one that living is worthless and that there is no ultimate purpose for life. Nagel fails to provide solid solutions to the absurdity of lifes meaning and consequently fails to provide a convincing stand completely. Works cited Ayer, Jules. The Meaning of Life. New York: C. Scribners Sons, 1990. Print. Lurie, Yuval. Tracking the Meaning of Life a Philosophical Journey. Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 2006. Print. Nagel, Thomas. Mortal Questions. Cambridge [Eng.: Cambridge University Press, 1979. 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