The Definition of Absurdity

There is an old maxim that I've applied to much of my worldview: Nothing is true, everything is possible. Another simple way to say it is that there is no objective truth in the world. Now, a common rebuttal is to say that the above maxim is itself an objective truth, thereby discrediting it as a self contradictory statement. This is, of course, quite true... if you only take a literal look at said statement.

Let me show you a different way.

When a man (I say man to keep my thoughts in particular order, not to support some chauvinistic patriarchal way of life) is young, he is taught that a particular way of thought holds some truth of the way this world does or ought to function. We hold these ideals as self evident, as beginnings from which logic flows rather than ends which we achieve with time. These truths can be as complex as an entire religion with many teaching from any manner of religious text or as simple as 'do as your told' and 'good things happen to good people'. In most cases such axioms are necessary for a civilization of any size to function properly.

However, when a man confronts the Absurd, that which is contrary to what the man knows as objective truth, he comes at a crossroads, and must make a choice between three different paths. However, the actual choices that can be made is the topic of a later discussion.

Still, when a man confronts the absurd and embraces it (one of the three choices) he returns with an intimate understanding of the chaotic nature of the world with which he is a part of. However, he is still forced to use the axioms of reason simply because that is all he knows or understands. Despite his new found wisdom, he is trapped in the communication techniques of his past life. It is much like when an individual claims to have a God experience and returns unable to fully put into words what he experienced in his encounter. Likewise, when a man confronts the Absurd, he is likewise unable to fully put into exact words what he experienced in that circumstance.

So to say that the axiom 'There are no objective truths' is a self contradictory fallacy isn't itself an incorrect statement, but only if you take this idea in the most literal sense possible. if you allow it to hint at a much larger idea that cannot be put into exact words, you allow the possibility of such an idea to take full shape.

This is, at least, what I understand as self evident in this moment, and that itself may change with enough time.

Street Preachers

I've maintained for a long time that this world if inherently absurd. To say that there is objective truth in the world is just as self-contradictory as saying that the is no objective truth in the world. Simply put, the world is founded on paradox, and while I plan to go into great detail on this subject in the future, let me share a simple happening today.

Earlier this morning I was walking from the 5-Points station to my office where I work. Its about a 4-5 block walk, nothing to freak about. Still, there are plenty of things to see along the way. Today, however, something seemed more off than usual. There was a street minister there preaching about the 3 temptations of the christgod. He was particularly fond of the saying 'man cannot live on bread alone' as he screamed it thrice to an uncaring crowd of pedestrians. Sitting next to him was a very dirty homeless man who looked like he passed out on heroin some hours ago and hadn't had a decent meal in some time.

The preacher told us that only the christgod can feed our soul, but who was willing to give that poor old man a piece of bread? What good is a fulfilled soul if the stomach goes empty?

I have yet to meet a preacher of any faith who has been able to give me a solid answer to this.