Dear Spanky,
What is the meaning of life?
Originally Posted by Parttimehobbyist
There is no intrinsic meaning, but how one reacts to the lack of meaning can differ depending on whether they are an existentialist, a nihilist, or an absurdist.
- Existentialism is the belief that through a combination of awareness, free will, and personal responsibility, one can construct their own meaning within a world that intrinsically has none of its own.
- Nihilism is the belief that not only is there no intrinsic meaning in the universe, but that it’s pointless to try to construct our own as a substitute.
- Absurdism is the belief that a search for meaning is inherently in conflict with the actual lack of meaning, but that one should both accept this and simultaneously rebel against it by embracing what life has to offer.