I want to start with two very short stories first story a salesman wakes up
stories first story a salesman wakes up
stories first story a salesman wakes up one morning and finds himself unable to
one morning and finds himself unable to
one morning and finds himself unable to go to work because for some reason has
go to work because for some reason has
go to work because for some reason has been transformed into a huge insect as
been transformed into a huge insect as
been transformed into a huge insect as time goes by the salesman’s getting
time goes by the salesman’s getting
time goes by the salesman’s getting somehow used to has changed buddy where
somehow used to has changed buddy where
somehow used to has changed buddy where as to his family he’s just a big
as to his family he’s just a big
as to his family he’s just a big nuisance an animal that’s incapable to
nuisance an animal that’s incapable to
nuisance an animal that’s incapable to support them financially in the end the
support them financially in the end the
support them financially in the end the salesman the insect that is dies and his
salesman the insect that is dies and his
salesman the insect that is dies and his parents and sister go for a little
parents and sister go for a little
parents and sister go for a little family vacation
family vacation
family vacation second story two men have been waiting
second story two men have been waiting
second story two men have been waiting for 50 years on a country road for
for 50 years on a country road for
for 50 years on a country road for someone or something called
someone or something called
someone or something called Goro each night a boy delivers the
Goro each night a boy delivers the
Goro each night a boy delivers the message that girl won’t come today but
message that girl won’t come today but
message that girl won’t come today but will surely arrive tomorrow but that
will surely arrive tomorrow but that
will surely arrive tomorrow but that never happens
never happens
never happens good old doesn’t arrive and the two men
good old doesn’t arrive and the two men
good old doesn’t arrive and the two men wait ever after these are just two
wait ever after these are just two
wait ever after these are just two legendary examples of the literary
legendary examples of the literary
legendary examples of the literary absurd the first one sums up the plot of
absurd the first one sums up the plot of
absurd the first one sums up the plot of a novella by the park rider Franz Kafka
a novella by the park rider Franz Kafka
a novella by the park rider Franz Kafka called metamorphosis different long it
called metamorphosis different long it
called metamorphosis different long it was written in 1912 the second one is
was written in 1912 the second one is
was written in 1912 the second one is the summary of Waiting for Godot
the summary of Waiting for Godot
the summary of Waiting for Godot a theatre play by the Irish writer
a theatre play by the Irish writer
a theatre play by the Irish writer Samuel Beckett which was first staged in
Samuel Beckett which was first staged in
Samuel Beckett which was first staged in 1953 what do these two stories have in
1953 what do these two stories have in
1953 what do these two stories have in common they are not making any sense
common they are not making any sense
common they are not making any sense they are weird crazy ridiculous absurd
they are weird crazy ridiculous absurd
they are weird crazy ridiculous absurd absurd stems from the Latin word
absurd stems from the Latin word
absurd stems from the Latin word absurdum literary meaning out of Harmony
absurdum literary meaning out of Harmony
absurdum literary meaning out of Harmony the absurd so the dictionary tells us
the absurd so the dictionary tells us
the absurd so the dictionary tells us stands for the irrational the logical
stands for the irrational the logical
stands for the irrational the logical the unintelligible absolutism is the
the unintelligible absolutism is the
the unintelligible absolutism is the modern art form that stands for a
modern art form that stands for a
modern art form that stands for a certain avant-garde tradition observance
certain avant-garde tradition observance
certain avant-garde tradition observance narratives are inspired by the
narratives are inspired by the
narratives are inspired by the observance that reality
observance that reality
observance that reality behave in a logical way many of these
behave in a logical way many of these
behave in a logical way many of these works were written shortly before or
works were written shortly before or
works were written shortly before or after World War two
after World War two
after World War two they carried message that absurdity is a
they carried message that absurdity is a
they carried message that absurdity is a central part of human existence that
central part of human existence that
central part of human existence that human condition is characterized by the
human condition is characterized by the
human condition is characterized by the nonsensical the meaningless the feeling
nonsensical the meaningless the feeling
nonsensical the meaningless the feeling of meaninglessness is of course by no
of meaninglessness is of course by no
of meaninglessness is of course by no means restricted to writers or artists
means restricted to writers or artists
means restricted to writers or artists or philosophers I don’t know about you
or philosophers I don’t know about you
or philosophers I don’t know about you but most people feel from time to time
but most people feel from time to time
but most people feel from time to time that life is absurd some have that
that life is absurd some have that
that life is absurd some have that feeling all the time not because they
feeling all the time not because they
feeling all the time not because they walk as huge insects through life but
walk as huge insects through life but
walk as huge insects through life but because they experience life as a rather
because they experience life as a rather
because they experience life as a rather capricious diva that just doesn’t care
capricious diva that just doesn’t care
capricious diva that just doesn’t care that much about their ambitions or
that much about their ambitions or
that much about their ambitions or efforts what is life life is a full-time
efforts what is life life is a full-time
efforts what is life life is a full-time job one we all take very seriously we’re
job one we all take very seriously we’re
job one we all take very seriously we’re making plans we’re determined to
making plans we’re determined to
making plans we’re determined to struggle very hard to make our dreams
struggle very hard to make our dreams
struggle very hard to make our dreams come true and yet we can’t escape
come true and yet we can’t escape
come true and yet we can’t escape skepticism we can’t escape doubt
skepticism we can’t escape doubt
skepticism we can’t escape doubt sometimes we doubt that our efforts are
sometimes we doubt that our efforts are
sometimes we doubt that our efforts are really worthwhile we doubt that we’ll
really worthwhile we doubt that we’ll
really worthwhile we doubt that we’ll reach our goals we know that death can
reach our goals we know that death can
reach our goals we know that death can strike anytime right now at the moment
strike anytime right now at the moment
strike anytime right now at the moment I’ve decided to clean up my life and
I’ve decided to clean up my life and
I’ve decided to clean up my life and become a better person I could get
become a better person I could get
become a better person I could get diagnosed with cancer or any other
diagnosed with cancer or any other
diagnosed with cancer or any other irrational obstacle could get my way why
irrational obstacle could get my way why
irrational obstacle could get my way why is that a problem must that be a problem
is that a problem must that be a problem
is that a problem must that be a problem well I don’t think so on the contrary I
well I don’t think so on the contrary I
well I don’t think so on the contrary I believe that without the absurd there is
believe that without the absurd there is
believe that without the absurd there is no good life no happy life even not for
no good life no happy life even not for
no good life no happy life even not for you not for me
you not for me
you not for me why do I think so isn’t it absurd to
why do I think so isn’t it absurd to
why do I think so isn’t it absurd to think so yet absurd is also a social
think so yet absurd is also a social
think so yet absurd is also a social get it with the contradictory with a
get it with the contradictory with a
get it with the contradictory with a paradoxical that’s because it refers to
paradoxical that’s because it refers to
paradoxical that’s because it refers to the conflict between our demands for
the conflict between our demands for
the conflict between our demands for meaning and the world that all too often
meaning and the world that all too often
meaning and the world that all too often doesn’t satisfy those demands for
doesn’t satisfy those demands for
doesn’t satisfy those demands for example Peter Peter spends all his money
example Peter Peter spends all his money
example Peter Peter spends all his money for his fiancee he buys her a house they
for his fiancee he buys her a house they
for his fiancee he buys her a house they move in together and next day she leaves
move in together and next day she leaves
move in together and next day she leaves him for a woman or take Kate Kate
him for a woman or take Kate Kate
him for a woman or take Kate Kate desperately tries to get pregnant
desperately tries to get pregnant
desperately tries to get pregnant whereas her sister Kim doesn’t want to
whereas her sister Kim doesn’t want to
whereas her sister Kim doesn’t want to have children at all
have children at all
have children at all Kate tries in vitro fertilization and
Kate tries in vitro fertilization and
Kate tries in vitro fertilization and doesn’t succeed whereas Kim all of a
doesn’t succeed whereas Kim all of a
doesn’t succeed whereas Kim all of a sudden finds herself pregnant with
sudden finds herself pregnant with
sudden finds herself pregnant with triplets really is that a fact
triplets really is that a fact
triplets really is that a fact or did I just make up another story as
or did I just make up another story as
or did I just make up another story as you know recently fact and truth have
you know recently fact and truth have
you know recently fact and truth have become highly controversial issues
become highly controversial issues
become highly controversial issues lately we’ve incorporated a new category
lately we’ve incorporated a new category
lately we’ve incorporated a new category into the existing domain of reality the
into the existing domain of reality the
into the existing domain of reality the so called eternity facts it’s possible
so called eternity facts it’s possible
so called eternity facts it’s possible that those who believe in the Church of
that those who believe in the Church of
that those who believe in the Church of facts were educated to think that
facts were educated to think that
facts were educated to think that whatever facts there may be they all
whatever facts there may be they all
whatever facts there may be they all socially constructed anyway
socially constructed anyway
socially constructed anyway ever since constructivism has spread
ever since constructivism has spread
ever since constructivism has spread from the university to politics a new
from the university to politics a new
from the university to politics a new facet of the absurd has come to the
facet of the absurd has come to the
facet of the absurd has come to the foreground and this is the sense that
foreground and this is the sense that
foreground and this is the sense that true and false are just two sides of the
true and false are just two sides of the
true and false are just two sides of the same coin that facts are just a matter
same coin that facts are just a matter
same coin that facts are just a matter of perspective but when for each facts
of perspective but when for each facts
of perspective but when for each facts there’s an alternate effect because each
there’s an alternate effect because each
there’s an alternate effect because each can be somehow defended on its own
can be somehow defended on its own
can be somehow defended on its own grounds because there’s no common
grounds because there’s no common
grounds because there’s no common reality by which to measure what’s right
reality by which to measure what’s right
reality by which to measure what’s right what’s wrong what’s true and what’s fake
what’s wrong what’s true and what’s fake
what’s wrong what’s true and what’s fake then you end up
then you end up
then you end up in relativism then you have to concede
in relativism then you have to concede
in relativism then you have to concede there are facts relatively true but what
there are facts relatively true but what
there are facts relatively true but what I say is true
I say is true
I say is true must feel true for you for instance you
must feel true for you for instance you
must feel true for you for instance you say that we’re living in a post fact
say that we’re living in a post fact
say that we’re living in a post fact world I say that we’re living among
world I say that we’re living among
world I say that we’re living among people who prefer following their post
people who prefer following their post
people who prefer following their post rational sentiments rather than relying
rational sentiments rather than relying
rational sentiments rather than relying on objective scientific criteria you
on objective scientific criteria you
on objective scientific criteria you have your truth and I have mine and that
have your truth and I have mine and that
have your truth and I have mine and that sounds quite out of harmony absurd at
sounds quite out of harmony absurd at
sounds quite out of harmony absurd at least to me who still believes in
least to me who still believes in
least to me who still believes in science so to sum up in art as well as
science so to sum up in art as well as
science so to sum up in art as well as in daily life the absurd is associated
in daily life the absurd is associated
in daily life the absurd is associated with a global sense of nonsense still I
with a global sense of nonsense still I
with a global sense of nonsense still I believe that without the absurd there’s
believe that without the absurd there’s
believe that without the absurd there’s no good no happy life not for any of us
no good no happy life not for any of us
no good no happy life not for any of us I tell you why I’m a philosopher I earn
I tell you why I’m a philosopher I earn
I tell you why I’m a philosopher I earn my living by giving talks like that and
my living by giving talks like that and
my living by giving talks like that and writing books for a large audience
writing books for a large audience
writing books for a large audience consider but outside the Academy no one
consider but outside the Academy no one
consider but outside the Academy no one really knows what philosophy is no one
really knows what philosophy is no one
really knows what philosophy is no one really knows what a philosopher is as a
really knows what a philosopher is as a
really knows what a philosopher is as a blonde woman it can actually be quite
blonde woman it can actually be quite
blonde woman it can actually be quite dangerous to go to a party and present
dangerous to go to a party and present
dangerous to go to a party and present yourself as a philosopher people might
yourself as a philosopher people might
yourself as a philosopher people might easily get confused they might have
easily get confused they might have
easily get confused they might have expected something completely different
expected something completely different
expected something completely different they might think that you’re not really
they might think that you’re not really
they might think that you’re not really real or just another alternative fact or
real or just another alternative fact or
real or just another alternative fact or worse some time ago when I went to the
worse some time ago when I went to the
worse some time ago when I went to the gym there was a new trainer and by
gym there was a new trainer and by
gym there was a new trainer and by chance she found out about my profession
chance she found out about my profession
chance she found out about my profession and she was really shocked she just
and she was really shocked she just
and she was really shocked she just stood there staring at me and she went a
stood there staring at me and she went a
stood there staring at me and she went a philosopher oh my god but I thought the
philosopher oh my god but I thought the
philosopher oh my god but I thought the Philosopher’s were all dead
as philosopher you happen upon a lot of
as philosopher you happen upon a lot of absurd situations like that the
absurd situations like that the
absurd situations like that the situation is absurd when it includes the
situation is absurd when it includes the
situation is absurd when it includes the drastic difference between what you’re
drastic difference between what you’re
drastic difference between what you’re expecting or striving for and what is
expecting or striving for and what is
expecting or striving for and what is really the case
really the case
really the case you wouldn’t expect it to be presumed
you wouldn’t expect it to be presumed
you wouldn’t expect it to be presumed dead you wouldn’t expect it to wake up
dead you wouldn’t expect it to wake up
dead you wouldn’t expect it to wake up as an insect or stop being the person
as an insect or stop being the person
as an insect or stop being the person you thought you were but what have you
you thought you were but what have you
you thought you were but what have you did the small doubt remains I don’t
did the small doubt remains I don’t
did the small doubt remains I don’t think that doubt is bad I don’t think
think that doubt is bad I don’t think
think that doubt is bad I don’t think that bumping into nonsense over and over
that bumping into nonsense over and over
that bumping into nonsense over and over must necessarily be a bad thing on the
must necessarily be a bad thing on the
must necessarily be a bad thing on the contrary I believe that every time we
contrary I believe that every time we
contrary I believe that every time we feel that a situation is absurd we’re
feel that a situation is absurd we’re
feel that a situation is absurd we’re reminded of our freedom to change our
reminded of our freedom to change our
reminded of our freedom to change our attitude towards it and that’s why I
attitude towards it and that’s why I
attitude towards it and that’s why I don’t quite agree to the arguments of
don’t quite agree to the arguments of
don’t quite agree to the arguments of the so-called existentialist philosopher
the so-called existentialist philosopher
the so-called existentialist philosopher of post-war France especially jean-paul
of post-war France especially jean-paul
of post-war France especially jean-paul Satre and I Becca moon – haters of the
Satre and I Becca moon – haters of the
Satre and I Becca moon – haters of the absurd for them life is just inherently
absurd for them life is just inherently
absurd for them life is just inherently meaningless what happens happens
meaningless what happens happens
meaningless what happens happens life and the world just doesn’t care
life and the world just doesn’t care
life and the world just doesn’t care about us about whether we’re good or bad
about us about whether we’re good or bad
about us about whether we’re good or bad persons therefore Sattler death is just
persons therefore Sattler death is just
persons therefore Sattler death is just the file absurdity no more no less
the file absurdity no more no less
the file absurdity no more no less absurd than life itself commute on the
absurd than life itself commute on the
absurd than life itself commute on the other hand he puts it bluntly he says
other hand he puts it bluntly he says
other hand he puts it bluntly he says that in the face of an absurd world with
that in the face of an absurd world with
that in the face of an absurd world with just two options either we commit
just two options either we commit
just two options either we commit suicide or we become rebels Commun
suicide or we become rebels Commun
suicide or we become rebels Commun recommends that we wrote for defiance
recommends that we wrote for defiance
recommends that we wrote for defiance against the world that’s just not ready
against the world that’s just not ready
against the world that’s just not ready to meet our expectations he does so
to meet our expectations he does so
to meet our expectations he does so because he thinks that absurdity is a
because he thinks that absurdity is a
because he thinks that absurdity is a problem the disaster Oh
now let’s all take a deep breath and
now let’s all take a deep breath and relax a little better I got good news
relax a little better I got good news
relax a little better I got good news for you the absurd as such doesn’t exist
for you the absurd as such doesn’t exist
for you the absurd as such doesn’t exist or rather it exists only for rational
or rather it exists only for rational
or rather it exists only for rational animals like us who just can’t stop
animals like us who just can’t stop
animals like us who just can’t stop searching for meaning a hamsters life
searching for meaning a hamsters life
searching for meaning a hamsters life isn’t absurd
isn’t absurd
isn’t absurd a hamster doesn’t worry about his rent a
a hamster doesn’t worry about his rent a
a hamster doesn’t worry about his rent a hamster is not free to take a step back
hamster is not free to take a step back
hamster is not free to take a step back and see itself from a distance but we
and see itself from a distance but we
and see itself from a distance but we are we’re free
are we’re free
are we’re free we’re able to transcend ourselves in our
we’re able to transcend ourselves in our
we’re able to transcend ourselves in our situation in thought and that’s a
situation in thought and that’s a
situation in thought and that’s a wonderful thing because if we do we can
wonderful thing because if we do we can
wonderful thing because if we do we can see clearly that our world is not the
see clearly that our world is not the
see clearly that our world is not the realm of pure logic
realm of pure logic
realm of pure logic ours is a universe of contingency and
ours is a universe of contingency and
ours is a universe of contingency and contingent means whatever is
contingent means whatever is
contingent means whatever is such-and-such could as well be otherwise
such-and-such could as well be otherwise
such-and-such could as well be otherwise in a contingent world there’s no just
in a contingent world there’s no just
in a contingent world there’s no just cause and effect there’s always the
cause and effect there’s always the
cause and effect there’s always the possibility of a senseless obstacle
possibility of a senseless obstacle
possibility of a senseless obstacle getting in our way and it is this
getting in our way and it is this
getting in our way and it is this possibility that creates our sense of
possibility that creates our sense of
possibility that creates our sense of the absurd but is what we call
the absurd but is what we call
the absurd but is what we call irrational logic are crazy not always
irrational logic are crazy not always
irrational logic are crazy not always the beginning of a big icky
the beginning of a big icky
the beginning of a big icky adventure just for change imagine a life
adventure just for change imagine a life
adventure just for change imagine a life that would make perfect sense everything
that would make perfect sense everything
that would make perfect sense everything you’ve ever wanted would come true in
you’ve ever wanted would come true in
you’ve ever wanted would come true in time you would find the perfect partner
time you would find the perfect partner
time you would find the perfect partner and the perfect job for you your kids
and the perfect job for you your kids
and the perfect job for you your kids would be born at precisely the right
would be born at precisely the right
would be born at precisely the right time your boss would be empathetic and
time your boss would be empathetic and
time your boss would be empathetic and full of integrity you’ll never fall ill
full of integrity you’ll never fall ill
full of integrity you’ll never fall ill during vacation everything would turn
during vacation everything would turn
during vacation everything would turn out exactly as planned
out exactly as planned
out exactly as planned would you call it a good life of course
would you call it a good life of course
would you call it a good life of course not a good life or die ammonia
not a good life or die ammonia
not a good life or die ammonia the Greek philosophers call it is not
the Greek philosophers call it is not
the Greek philosophers call it is not determined by necessity it is determined
determined by necessity it is determined
determined by necessity it is determined by action it requires your active
by action it requires your active
by action it requires your active contribution in a contingent world if
contribution in a contingent world if
contribution in a contingent world if you want a happy life you shouldn’t do
you want a happy life you shouldn’t do
you want a happy life you shouldn’t do everything as planned
everything as planned
everything as planned you should go out of your way and use
you should go out of your way and use
you should go out of your way and use your heart and your brain and embrace
your heart and your brain and embrace
your heart and your brain and embrace absurdity as well as the many doubts
absurdity as well as the many doubts
absurdity as well as the many doubts that go along with it and by the way
that go along with it and by the way
that go along with it and by the way embracing the absurd doesn’t just mean
embracing the absurd doesn’t just mean
embracing the absurd doesn’t just mean expecting the unexpected
expecting the unexpected
expecting the unexpected it means it’s expecting everything and
it means it’s expecting everything and
it means it’s expecting everything and nothing at the same time your sense of
nothing at the same time your sense of
nothing at the same time your sense of the absurd could well be the most human
the absurd could well be the most human
the absurd could well be the most human thing about you it could well be the
thing about you it could well be the
thing about you it could well be the proof that you’re not an insect and
proof that you’re not an insect and
proof that you’re not an insect and insects unable to ponder on alternative
insects unable to ponder on alternative
insects unable to ponder on alternative facts but who knows you never know you
facts but who knows you never know you
facts but who knows you never know you wake up as a bug maybe even tomorrow
wake up as a bug maybe even tomorrow
wake up as a bug maybe even tomorrow morning so next time you get stuck in a
morning so next time you get stuck in a
morning so next time you get stuck in a really absurd situation don’t pity
really absurd situation don’t pity
really absurd situation don’t pity yourself the absurd reminds you that
yourself the absurd reminds you that
yourself the absurd reminds you that life is never what you plant it should
life is never what you plant it should
life is never what you plant it should be life is an adventure and the
be life is an adventure and the
be life is an adventure and the absurdity is the starting point for a
absurdity is the starting point for a
absurdity is the starting point for a good life thank you very much
”
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