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absurdism

/əbˈsɜrdɪzəm/
IPA guide

Other forms: absurdisms

In philosophy, absurdism is the idea that nothing in the universe makes any kind of rational sense. In comedy, absurdism is just plain ridiculous and silly.

Absurdism comes from absurd, "ridiculous or unreasonable," and its Latin root, absurdus, "out of tune." If you have a philosophical belief in absurdism, you think it's a waste of time to search for the meaning of life, since the entire world is simply absurd. Most people, however, only see specific situations and events as absurd. We can appreciate the absurdism of a truly goofy comedian, even if we view the universe as rational and meaningful.

Definitions of absurdism
  1. noun
    a ludicrous folly
    see moresee less
    type of:
    folly, foolishness, unwiseness
    the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
  2. noun
    a belief that people exist in a chaotic and pointless universe, a philosophy introduced by the French thinker Albert Camus and portrayed in art
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