Existentialism vs Absurdism vs Nihilism

you find yourself walking down the street with your morning coffee in hand as your brain is flooded with the dozens of issues and problems you need to deal with maybe it's a relationship that's on the Rocks a pet that needs to go to the B but you know that paying that bill means you might be short on rent this month or the fact that the very coffee you're drinking is probably going to keep you up all night worrying but you kind of have to drink it anyway or else you can't survive the day you're working a job you hate just so you can make ends meat you're experiencing an existential crisis and it's in moments like this that we start to question everything we've been taught about life why are we doing any of this like Copus in Greek mythology life feels like we're forced to push a boulder up a hill only for it to roll right back down how can we live a life of meaning when it feels like nothing in the world makes any sense if you find yourself grappling with these questions there are different philosophies that can help provide answers the first is existentialism which challenges you to embrace your newfound freedom and use it to create meaning amidst life's unending uncertainties before we continue I'd like to take a moment to take the sponsor of today's video better help recently we've seen more and more people turn to AI to help deal with their emotional challenges and the problem unfortunately is that AI can't replicate the empathy and Humanity that you get with a real therapist as as somebody who has gone to therapy for a few years now I can say it has changed my life however I know that one of the reasons people turn to AI is that therapy is often inaccessible and way too expensive and if that's the case for you you should check out betterhelp better help's goal is to make therapy affordable and accessible for everyone all you need to do is answer a few questions and in a few days you'll get assigned to a professional therapist if you don't like them or feel that they don't understand you well enough you can easily switch to a new therapist completely for free without having to worry about things like who's going to take your insurance and what therapists are in your network better hope has made it super easy to get started with therapy click the link in the description below or go to betterhelp.com aperture to get 10% off your first month and connect with the right therapist for you back to our story highlighted by philosophers like Friedrich n and saurin kard existentialism never truly found its way to mainstream acceptance until the emergence of the 20th century philosopher Jean Paul SRA through SRA we've come to understand existentialism as a way to confront life and its fundamental absurdity it's a belief that urges us to embrace our individuality and Forge our own paths in defiance of an indifferent Universe you'll see more of what sarta meant by his words that open this video as we get further along and outlining what all these isms mean in our lives to fully grasp existentialism we'll first need to examine the teachings of Plato and Aristotle both believed in individuals born with attributes intrinsically linked to that person's identity which they deemed to be their their Essence even objects we share this universe with like trees possess an Essence a tree has roots a trunk branches and leaves although many kinds of trees exist these qualities Define an individual tree's Essence which makes it very different from every other tree on the planet essentialists like Plato and Aristotle believed that Essence exists before we're even born for example essentialists from the Industrial Age would tell you that the essence of a man is in his role as a provider and protector even though many today no longer believe that to be true similarly on a cultural scale Essence plays a significant role around the world in Japan the concept of otasi or serving others wholeheartedly is a form of essence essence gives us a purpose it's the idea that something exists outside of us that we have to live up to we are tasked with living up to that purpose and it's something we always seem to be in search of the world operated under this belief for a large part of human history thanks to institutions like religion and tradition but while these beliefs are based on the idea the essence comes before existence existentialists believe the opposite that existence precedes essence they believe that we come into this world with no predetermined purpose and that we have the freedom to Define what our Essence is on our own terms a figure like Prince Harry from the British royal family represents existentialism in an interesting way born into what many would consider a strong and unbreakable Essence he decided to walk away from that life in pursuit of freedom and love redefining his life outside of the confines of royalty his decision mirrors the ex existentialist principle that freedom comes with a profound level of responsibility man is condemned to be free because once thrown into the world he is responsible for everything he does this quote from SRA highlights an important aspect of the existentialist plight everyone is fully accountable for their choices therefore we must confront the consequences of our actions existentialism asserts that individuals aren't Bound by societal or religious Norms in other words you don't have to subscribe to the meaning given by society's figures of authority you might suddenly realize that your teacher sense of meaning is pointless as is that of your parents and even the leaders of the country in which you live why should you listen to them when they don't get to determine your essence it sounds tempting to be completely free from the shackles of society but being an existentialist almost means accepting the consequences that come as a result of rebelling against conventional Authority on the flip side if you choose to live according to a predetermined rule book for life you are living in bad faith deciding to quit your hectic construction job in exchange for your artistic passions is a worthwhile Pursuit however when You Face struggles from a lack of stability you'll need to charge headon understanding the consequences of Freedom if you instead choose to remain at that job despite it being unfulfilling you'll be living in bad faith at the core existentialists believe that whatever meaning you find in life you must determine on your own do you genuinely enjoy accounting go for it that's your meaning are you only doing this job because you're scared of being a failed artist that's bad faith existentialism isn't the magical answer to Life's alienating and questionable problems what it does is present a type of authenticity that makes you an active participant in life the shift in mentality is an important step towards fulfillment in the modern world it's also closely connected with the absurd but it treats this absurdity with a sense of agency urging individuals to confront it headon we are encouraged to engage with the Absurd in pursuit of meaning and authenticity while existentialism grapples with an individual search for meaning in an indifferent Universe absurdism takes things a step further why should you search for meaning when existence itself is absurd to an absurdist life is inherently meaningless and so every attempt to find meaning or purpose is futile absurdism Embraces the inherent contradictions of life without succumbing to nihilism or despair rather than seeking to discover meaning or purpose absurdism encourages individuals to confront their existence with Defiance Albert Kimu 820 Century philosopher believed in absurdism as a form of philosophical Rebellion Against Humanity search for meaning much of History centers on a belief in an ultimate answer that will provide a sense of relief to Life's unending cruelty for a figure like Kimu the Absurd emerges as an answer to nihilism despaired and a humbling truth to existentialism demand for meaning Kimu wrote the Absurd is the essential Concept in the first truth much like taking the red pill on the Matrix acknowledging the Absurd is seen as the first step to living in reality do you get extremely self-critical after falling short on personal goals youve set for yourself in the eyes of an absurdist there's no point to that dispair after all you can find Freedom in the fact that it's all ultimately meaningless this new found Insight can be a powerful push towards healthier more detached thoughts for an existentialist finding your own meaning might feel satisfying but to an absurdist true Freedom exists in rejecting the concept of meaning what happens when an existentialist meaning is scrutinized challenged and broken down down an absurdism meaning is a futile Endeavor when life flaunts its indifference without warning existentialism offers a compelling response to absurdism instead of choosing to Cave into despair it encourages us to actively engage with life after all authenticity self-awareness and a pursuit of meaning are core tenants of this philosophy while absurdism may lead to Total apathy from a lack of passion existentialism tasks us with taking ownership of Our Lives even when things don't go the way you might have intended it's important to avoid falling into an autopilot routine if you suddenly lost your dream home in a fire absurdists might question why you were ever attached to that home in the first place with existentialism you are challenged to acknowledge the pain of loss while recognizing the significance of your attachments losing a home is undeniably tragic but we are encouraged to find meaning in response to this adversity that quest for meaning can lead to a deeper appreciation for your bond with your loved ones existentialism lets you dig deeper when it seems like all hope is lost in many ways it's a celebration of the indomitable human Spirit meaning can be found anywhere in everywhere and as an existentialist you have the choice and ability to find purpose and fulfillment no matter what should we really do anything about life's inherent lack of meaning why react in the first place existentialism is often at odds with nihilism it's no surprise as nihilism is the warmest embrace one can give to Life's hopelessness while an absurdist advocates for defiance of life's absurdity anilist doubles down on its meaninglessness adopting despair towards life although existentialists must find a meaning of their own for nihilists nothing comes next Once the meaninglessness is acknowledged life is meaningless so we must act accordingly nihilism is often associated with the German philosopher Frederick NCH while he was never a strong advocate for this philosophy nche presented nihilism as a consequence to the death of Traditional Values God is dead God remains dead and we have killed him to n losing the once default belief in God presents a predicament that ultimately leads to nihilistic thoughts you can think of nihilism as the default state of humanity when God and the premise of a Supreme Being are out of the picture while nihilism is rooted in despair certain aspects of this concept provide insightful Reflections in fact there's an active or optimistic type of nihilism that exists optimistic nihilism challenges conventional values seeing the removal of traditional meanings as an opportunity to sprout new moral and cultural Horizons n believed this to be a potentially liberating view as it opened doors to Value based on Collective and personal will optimistic nihilism exists in our world and it manifests in some interesting ways a figure like Elon Musk who claims to have read n at age 14 represents this philosophy quite well even if his personal opinions are questionable his outside of the box approach to technology and space exploration Challenges Old wisdom and expectations SpaceX is a company that revolutionized the cost of space exploration many people would avoid taking on a government-backed organization like NASA especially when so much of the science is locked behind classified information with optimistic nihilism one unlocks the ability to push significant boundaries that were left untouched due to strong long-established beliefs while everyone else might be scared to pull the 100-year-old curtain back a nihilist realizes that giving power to such a belief doesn't help anyone if there's a monster on the other side the fear ends if there is no monster the fear ends at its core existentialism offers a distinct perspective in response to nihilism although the universe doesn't offer an inherent meaning existentialists believe that we have a capacity to live a defined and fulfilling life with our choices and actions existentialism acknowledges our potential for personal growth ethical engagement and a meaningful existence in a universe that lacks an objective meaning it's a celebration of our freedom to shape our lives and identities with this philosophy we can fully advocate for our confrontation of modern existential dilemmas existentialism absurdism and nihilism all except life's meaninglessness but each of them provides very different responses to this meaninglessness to explain this difference picture yourself trapped in solitary confinement absurdism teaches you to stop looking for meaning in your suffering and to instead laugh in the face of your captors in the myth of Copus pushing a boulder uphill seems like a futile punishment but Define an attempt brings a sense of fulfillment one must imagine sis of is Happy nihilism teaches you to do nothing it's all meaninglessness your imprisonment your Defiance your search for meaning none of it matters you would most likely find an nihilist lying in bed waiting for the end to come life's inherent lack of meaning renders them detached they are resigned to the inevitability of existence without a desire to engage in introspection or Defiance existentialism teaches you to take this experience as an opportunity for self-reflection and personal Evolution each moment in confinement becomes a canvas upon which you may create meaning and even improve your identity by embracing your mental Freedom you can seek out purpose even in the face of adversity this mentality can lead to some powerful results throughout his 27e imprisonment during South Africa's apartheid regime Nelson Mandela committed to meaning in the form of human dignity and the rights of every individual regardless of race this commitment reflects the existentialist theme of finding meaning through personal struggles in the end this enduring belief is what helped Mandela eventually reshape the future of his country an existentialist mindset was key to keeping himself together holding on to his core sense of meaning until his eventual release existentialism allows us to embrace individuality at its core even if life has no meaning there's still a strong and often unexpected Beauty and what we're able to create from the rubble of life's absurdity as an existentialist your life has meaning the moment you decide to create one it's like the ultimate cheat code against apathy and despair instead of succumbing to the void the act of living transforms into an art form by embracing existentialism you can confront life's inherent uncertainties while also transforming them into opportunities to pursue personal growth the next time you're faced with a tough decision and that overwhelming feeling Dawns upon you remember that you have the freedom to create your own meaning if the pressure of getting a job is clouding your mind it might be time to ask yourself what really matters take some time to reflect Ponder your next steps prioritize what makes a meaningful life in your heart and decide for yourself what your life should be once you feel like you figured it out you can begin to live authentically even if you're working in a field you lack passion for you should work knowing that you intend to change things soon never succumb to bad faith and you'll be able to take on life's absurdity with a head held high if you like the videos we make and would love to support us to make bigger and better projects we just updated the patreon everyone who joins will get free access to our updated Discord server where you can connect with the aperture Community patrons can choose from different tiers with perks like discounts on all the merch we have and will create in the future private Discord channels for voting power on video topics and idea pitching shout outs in video descriptions and more perks to come that will be decided by you guys the patrons if you don't have the means then please don't feel obligated in any way subscribing and watching the videos is more than enough support but if you do have the means and want to support then patreon is the best way to do so the link is in the description thanks for watching

Channel: Aperture

Views: 41,913

Keywords: aperture, philosophy tube, big think, psychology, philosophy, universe, human experience, video essays, big ideas, ted talk, stoicism, sleep, lecture, podcast, absurdism, existentialism, nihilism, existentialism vs absurdism, existentialism sartre, nihilism vs existentialism, nihilism the belief in nothing, nihilism nietzsche, comparative philosophy, existential crisis, nihilism vs stoicism, nihilism vs islam, absurdism vs nihilism vs existentialism, absurdism vs stoicism

Id: qaIbUAkSYEU

Length: 15min 39sec (939 seconds)

Published: Sun Jun 23 2024