Camus' Connundrum

[Sethomas]

Il n'y a qu'un problème philosophique vraiment sérieux: c'est le suicide

"There is not but one truly serious philosophical problem: that is, suicide."

How do you choose to live in spite of the absurdity of existence? In those moments when life loses its fun, what gives you the temperance to wait it out until it gets better rather than just calling it quits? How much of a factor is the fear of the unknown, id est, death? Don't you ever get bored with life and think, "hey, life's predictable. Let's find out what death is."

I'm not at present a danger to myself, as I have my own answers to those, but I just wonder what the board has to say.

[Pub Lover]

God & Alcohol.

[Big Papa Goat]

are you a gnostic seth?

[theapportioner]

Thomas Nagel thinks Camus is taking himself waaay to seriously. I'm inclined to agree.

[davinxtk]

I came up with the answer to this one about a year ago when I was under the influence of some fairly potent hallucinogens. It works in just about any situation where you feel at your end. In fact, it even worked when I was coming down from the drugs and considered hanging myself for the sheer shock value of it all.

It's so simple that it's almost like cheating:

Believe that there is more.

That's my advice.




...or you could go the route that the Insane Clown Posse suggests, and think about the poor guy who'd have to clean it up.

[Pharaoh]

I think Camus was saying that if you don't believe in God, then life has no meaning and therefore is absurd. And if it's absurd and meaningless then why not just end it. What's the point in living?

I would have thought, though, that religious people would give up their life more easily than non-religious because they believe in an afterlife. For example Islamic suicide bombers, who think they're going to paradise.

I believe that being dead would be just the same as before being born. Absolutely nothing. So, for me, that thought makes life more precious and less boring and meaningless.

[mburbank]

"How do you choose to live in spite of the absurdity of existence?"

In spite of? The absurdity is the REASON I choose to keep living. If life had some speciffic point to it, there's a good chance I wouldn't like it. Then I'd think about killing myself.

Seriously, this is why Camus got invited to so few parties.

The only guarantee you get in life is that you will eventually be dead. It's highly likely that being dead will be different than being alive. I see no argument for not experiencing every aspect of life prior to death since it's coming anyway. It's not as if absurdity is excuriatingly painful. I mean, sure, it can be, and if it gets that way and looks like it's going to stay that way, it's not like if I don't commit suicide right now I loose my option.

[Preechr]

Well, I guess I'm gonna have to go all polar opposite once again on you, Max...

For me, if life had no goal or meaning, I'd lose any connection to it. Insignificance is unbearable to me, and I don't participate in meaningless events.

[mburbank]

I think it is a great testimony to our common humanity that we can be friends, Preech. I ONLY perticipate in things without meaning. It's my credo! I would, however, protect your right to find meaning in things to the death.

Well, actually, I hope you know I'd sneak out the back the moment deending your beliefs got the leat bit dicey, but it's the thought that counts.

[ziggytrix]

the meaning of life, at the very least, is death. suicide is like skipping to the last page of a mystery before finishing the novel. sure, people do that, but it's REALLY FUCKIN LAME.

[Dole]

I don't participate in meaningless events.

Welcome to the i-mockery forums

A meaningless, abject, barren existence in the void is just fine and dandy with me. In fact, ist better - because you know there isn't something you really should be doing instead of the meaningless crap you are actually doing.

[ziggytrix]

Originally Posted by Kurt Vonnegut

I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different.

Reading A Man Without a Country while waiting on jury duty is a surefire way to get the sort of thought into your head that will get you excused from jury duty.

[mburbank]

we do-doodly-do-doodly-do-doodly-do
what we must-muddily-must-muddily-must-muddily-must
till we burst-bodily-burst-bodily-burst-bodily-burtst
bodily-bust-bodily-bust-bodily-bust-bodily-bust.

-Kurt Vonnegut Jr.