Existentialism and The absurd?

[jackforest]

I read the novel 'The Stranger' by Albert Camus, and it was a great introduction to the basics of existentialism. The idea of creating your own individualistic meaning to humanity is much more appealing to me than the suggested ordinary expectations of society on how the general public spends their limited time on earth.

Any views?

jackforest Reviewed by jackforest on 03-05-2008. Existentialism and The absurd? I read the novel 'The Stranger' by Albert Camus, and it was a great introduction to the basics of existentialism. The idea of creating your own individualistic meaning to humanity is much more appealing to me than the suggested ordinary expectations of society on how the general public spends their limited time on earth. Any views? Rating: 5

[psteve]

...

[serenity45]

I enjoyed that book too. One of my favorite endings to any book.

[Acouwaila]

Maybe at this point in the world, creating your own individualistic meaning to existance would be second best option. First is selflessness. But shit, Ill take the second....sorry for not having the balls to sacrafice everything I know for something I just started to understand. 20 years against 1 month is shitty man. I cant be a monk yet. But maybe someday ill make the leap.

[jackforest]

Maybe at this point in the world, creating your own individualistic meaning to existance would be second best option. First is selflessness. But shit, Ill take the second....sorry for not having the balls to sacrafice everything I know for something I just started to understand. 20 years against 1 month is shitty man. I cant be a monk yet. But maybe someday ill make the leap.

To achieve selflessness is just about as impossible as living in this world under your own terms. Society has us fucking hogtied to obey a certain code of social conduct. As for selfessness, imagine the last selfless deed you have done. I know I can't. I consider myself to be a pretty giving person but, even if its a good feeling derived from a good deed, your benifiting.

thanks for the reply, I wasn't sure if anyone would

[psteve]

words.
More words.
yet another set of words.
idea.
existence.

[jackforest]

words.
More words.
yet another set of words.
idea.
existence.

if only there were more psteve's in the world. thats a pretty good fundamental understanding. good show buddy

[psteve]

if only there were more psteve's in the world. thats a pretty good fundamental understanding. good show buddy

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Action.
Words.
Action.
More words
Action
Idea.
Evolution.

[Acouwaila]

To achieve selflessness is just about as impossible as living in this world under your own terms. Society has us fucking hogtied to obey a certain code of social conduct. As for selfessness, imagine the last selfless deed you have done. I know I can't. I consider myself to be a pretty giving person but, even if its a good feeling derived from a good deed, your benifiting.

thanks for the reply, I wasn't sure if anyone would

This is true. Living in the world on your own terms is still a kind of lie in itself, and really does no good for anything. And yes, selflessness is something reached after years and years of practice. It is hard not to feed the ego with all sorts of things that are appealing to you. You are right, it is practically impossible unless you want to make the sacrafice. I wasn't sure if you meant living in the world under your own terms in a sense of, doing what you want. Or just kind of creating a mindset that will get you through life with little confusion and mental pain.

After reading two books on busshism and zen, and also the teachings of budda, Its hard to turn away from. I now realize im kind of stuck in a world of illusion and the only way to break free would be to sacrafice everything I know, and have. and then continue a practice of zazen for 20 or 30 years

You may have benefited from the deed afterwards, but during it...the deed stood alone.

[stinkyattic]

Acouwaila, did you ever read The Fountainhead? There's an interesting commentary on selflessness that runs through the book- that one who is committed to acts of charity may not, in fact, be working primarily for the good of others at all, but in hopes of making themselves feel better, or be admired for their sacrifice, and that true selflessness comes only when one understands that he is simply a part of the greater community and helping others makes his own world a better place.
The character in particular whose story is of a misguided sense of charity is Toohey's niece Catherine, Keating's sometime girlfriend, who appears to be a minor character and doesn't show up in simplified analyses of the novel at all, but she is a very important figure IMHO, a tragic symbol of naivete and a poor understanding of her relationship with the world.