In a thought-provoking article on Aeon, Helena de Bres, a professor of philosophy at Wellesley College, explores the inherent absurdity of philosophy and, by extension, life itself. De Bres draws upon personal experiences and philosophical theories to argue that philosophy, when practiced earnestly, reveals the absurd nature of human existence.
The article begins with a vivid anecdote: during a seminar, de Bres found herself lying on a window seat due to back pain, delivering a lecture on authenticity and morality from an unconventional posture. This scenario, she reflects, highlights a fundamental aspect of absurdity – the discrepancy between expectation and reality. In philosophy, this absurdity is even more pronounced due to the discipline’s nature of questioning and abstract thinking.
De Bres references Thomas Nagel’s influential account of absurdity, which posits that the sense of absurdity arises from oscillating between two perspectives: the engaged, subjective view of our lives and the detached, objective view from the universe’s standpoint. This “duck-rabbit” shift in perspective reveals the insignificance of our concerns on a cosmic scale, imbuing our existence with a sense of absurdity.
Despite this, de Bres argues, philosophers are among the most absurd individuals because of their deep engagement with abstraction and detachment, often passionately so. This paradoxical commitment to their discipline, despite its inherent reminders of life’s absurdity, is what makes philosophy both absurd and endearing.
The article also touches upon how absurdity is associated with futility, using the example of a Japanese game show where contestants struggle to climb slippery stairs. This metaphor for life’s challenges and the futility of certain endeavors resonates with the broader theme of confronting the absurd.
Ultimately, de Bres suggests embracing absurdity not with despair or heroism but with irony and a recognition of the value in human-sized pursuits. She posits that acknowledging the absurd does not negate the meaningfulness of our actions or passions. Even in the face of life’s absurdity, engaging deeply with philosophy, or any endeavor we love, can provide depth and purpose to our existence.
Helena de Bres’ article is a compelling meditation on the absurdity inherent in philosophy and life, offering insightful reflections on how to navigate this absurdity with grace and purpose.
Source: “Is philosophy absurd? Only when you’re doing it right” by Helena de Bres, Aeon.
