Nihilism, Existentialism, Absurdism and Stoicism.

Nihilism:

“God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?”

― Friedrich Nietzsche, The Madman and the Gay Science

The decline of religion eventually threw people's minds into chaos leaving us wondering why we are even
here why should we care what anyone thinks. This line of thought creates a void that can lead to depression and anxiety and that void is exactly what nihilism represents.  

With the advent of Darwin and Copernicus, the universe ceased to be anthropocentric or geocentric.

Existensialism's response to nihilism:

Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice. Its central tenets include the following:

1. Individual Freedom and Responsibility: Humans are free to choose their actions and are solely responsible for giving their lives meaning, despite the lack of inherent purpose or structure in the universe.

2. Existence Precedes Essence: This idea, popularized by Jean-Paul Sartre, suggests that individuals are not born with a predefined purpose or essence; instead, they must create their own identity and meaning through their actions and choices.

3. Subjectivity and Authenticity: Existentialists stress the importance of personal experience and authenticity. Living authentically means acting in accordance with one’s own values and beliefs, rather than conforming to societal expectations or external pressures.

4. Confronting Absurdity: Existentialists often explore the tension between humans’ desire for meaning and the indifferent or chaotic nature of the universe. This confrontation with absurdity challenges individuals to create their own purpose despite life’s inherent meaninglessness.

5. Anxiety and Freedom: The awareness of freedom and responsibility can lead to existential angst or anxiety. This is not seen as a negative but as an essential part of confronting and embracing one’s freedom. The awareness of freedom and responsibility leads to existential anxiety or “angst.” This anxiety stems from realizing the weight of one’s choices in a meaningless world, and hence self-development.  Martin Heidegger says “Anxiety is there. It is only sleeping. Its breath quivers perpetually through man’s being.” Heidegger connects anxiety to an awareness of mortality and freedom, seeing it as a pathway to authentic living. Angst and anxiety when tackled lead us to self-development.

6. Alienation and Isolation: Existentialism acknowledges the sense of disconnection people may feel from others, society, and even themselves, emphasizing the need to find meaning within these conditions.

Albert Camus' response to Nihilism:

"The realization that life is absurd cannot be an end, but only a beginning."

"My dear, In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love. In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile. In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm. I realized, through it all, that… In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back. Truly yours, Albert Camus"

"The greatness of man lies in his decision to be stronger than his condition."

"The Four Conditions of Happiness: Life in the open air, Love for another being,Freedom from ambition,Creation"

"The most important thing you do everyday you live is deciding not to kill yourself."

"Do not be afraid of spending quality time by yourself. Find meaning or don’t find meaning but “steal” some time and give it freely and exclusively to your own self. Opt for privacy and solitude. That doesn’t make you antisocial or cause you to reject the rest of the world. But you need to breathe. And you need to be."

"Always go too far, because that's where you'll find the truth"

"Life is the sum of your choices."

Camus' concept of absurdity is the clash between human's deep desire to find meaning in life and the indifferent silence of the universe. 

The muythiological Sisiphus is condemned by the gods to push a boulder up a mountain only for it to roll back down each time he reaches the top a never-ending cycle of pointless struggle and futility. Camus reinterprets this punishment as a metaphor for The Human Condition. Life, he argues, is an ongoing struggle where people continuously search for purpose fulfillment and answer yet these things often feel

unattainable, this is what Camus defines as the Absurd. The unresolvable contradiction between our need for meaning and the universe's lack of it instead of sinking into despair or nihilism in the face of this absurdity. Camus advocates for defiance and resilience. He suggests that we imagine Sishiphus happy despite recognizing the futility of his task Sishiphus still finds worth in the struggle, embracing the Absurd. It is living fully in the present, acknowledging life's limitations and discovering freedom by
accepting that life lacks an ultimate purpose.

 “Man stands face to face with the irrational; he feels within him his longing for happiness and for reason. The Absurd is born of this confrontation between the human need and the unreasonable silence of the world.”


Camus 3 ways to live life:

1. Suicide:

Live is a one-time experience and suicide will answer none of the questions. Never do that.

2. Philosophical Suicide:

Humans are wired to search for meaning but Camus suggested that one way to deal with the absurdity of existence is to adopt a belief system, religion, or ideology and just commit to it without over-questioning.

3. Embracing the absurdism

"You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life."

Embrace freedom: 

"The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion."

Find meaning in chaos:

"Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of that night filled mountain, in itself forms a world. The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy."

Absurdism gives us a reason to live. It encourages us to find our own meaning amid the disorder. Who cares if others think you're strange for pursuing your own path. They may already have opinions so let go of that worry. Who cares if the direction you choose is unconventional or unexpected it's your journey and the happiness it brings is yours alone.

Fulfillment can come from pursuing your passions building true connections and cherishing the small moments. Absurdism reminds us that life doesn't have an inherent purpose but it's up to each of us to create our own meaning.

Embrace suffering:

What matters is not the experience of suffering but how we respond to it. 

Camus' life was marked by hardship which profoundly shaped his ideas born into poverty in Algeria he lost his father during World War I and was raised by his mother under challenging conditions these struggles fostered his sensitivity to human suffering and social injustice. From a young age, he battled tuberculosis which often forced him to confront the fragility of life and fueled his exploration of mortality and existentialism these personal battles, found expression in the myth of Copus where he describes Life as a constant struggle for purpose in a universe that offers no answers despite this Camus argued that we

should embrace life's absurdity rather than fall into despair finding joy in the struggle itself.

Absurdism: A Double-Edged Sword:

Absurdism offers a happier and more liberating way to live but let's be real here Camus's idea of not caring at all.  Eventually, there comes a time in life when just not caring may lose its charm because
ultimately it's rooted in believing in nothingness. The concept of who cares has also shaped the mentality of some people online today like only fans creators or others who live without regard for the consequence of landing in prison. Humans are meant to believe in something. It mirrors the feelings of nihilism,, depression, and emptiness. We should explore why we exist. This purpose is at the heart of Humanity's quest for meaning rather than solely embracing the absurdity we can use it as motivation to explore questions and seek our own answers.

Tale Bruce Lee's advice regarding philosophies:  "Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless, and add what is specifically your own."

Source:

• Absurdism: Living HAPPILY in a World Without Meaning| Albert Camus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aiNCl8rREU&t=268s
• Nihilism vs. Existentialism vs. Absurdism — Explained and Compared https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0aX8QMkFAI

Stoic response to nihilism:

Stoicism is a philosophy rooted in cultivating inner peace, resilience, and virtue by focusing on what you can control and accepting what you cannot. Here’s a summary of Stoic principles through their most famous quotes:

1. Focus on What You Can Control

• “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius

• “It is not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” — Epictetus

2. Live in Harmony with Nature and Reason

• “Nature gave us one tongue and two ears so we could hear twice as much as we speak.” — Epictetus

• “Nothing happens to anyone that he is not fitted by nature to bear.” — Marcus Aurelius

3. Pursue Virtue Above All

• “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius

• “If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.” — Marcus Aurelius

4. Accept Mortality and Impermanence

• “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.” — Marcus Aurelius

• “Don’t demand that things happen as you wish, but wish that they happen as they do, and you will go on well.” — Epictetus

5. Embrace Hardship as a Path to Growth

• “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” — Marcus Aurelius

• “Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.” — Seneca

6. Practice Gratitude and Contentment

• “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” — Epictetus

• “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” — Seneca

These principles encourage a life of resilience, self-mastery, and alignment with the natural flow of existence, offering practical wisdom for enduring challenges gracefully.