In today’s rapidly advancing world, our collective knowledge and capabilities have grown at an astonishing pace. Yet, paradoxically, each new generation seems to grapple with increasing feelings of hopelessness and cynicism. This trend is evident across generations, from Gen X to Millennials, and now to Gen Z, where a growing sense of pessimism makes previous generations seem almost optimistic by comparison.
This pervasive sentiment is reflected in various forms of media, art, advertising, and humor, where irony and disillusionment have become common themes. To borrow from the 19th-century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, optimism appears to be a thing of the past, and we have contributed to its decline. As our understanding of the world deepens, we often find ourselves questioning the very narratives that once provided comfort and meaning. This leads to a sense of absurdity and meaninglessness in our existence.
One of the most pressing issues we face today is finding motivation and meaning in a world that seems devoid of inherent purpose. To tackle this challenge, we can look back to Nietzsche, who was at the forefront of addressing the disintegration of meaning in the Western world. Nietzsche argued that there is no universal objective truth in life; instead, life is a series of interpretations. He believed that the quest for universal meaning detracts from the subjective and expressive nature of human experience.
Nietzsche encouraged individuals to move away from relying on universal truths or cultural norms for meaning. Instead, he advocated for personal creative expression and subjective greatness. This idea is encapsulated in his concept of the “Übermensch” or “Overman,” a figure who embodies confidence, independence, and a strategic form of selfishness, pursuing personal desires without apology.
Nietzsche’s Overman represents an idealized version of oneself, a powerful being who has overcome fears and limitations. This ideal serves as a catalyst for self-growth, driving a continuous cycle of self-dissatisfaction, self-improvement, and self-rediscovery. For Nietzsche, this process of self-overcoming is crucial in addressing the problem of meaning and value in life. By setting personal goals aligned with an idealized version of oneself, life becomes worthwhile and fulfilling.
Building on Nietzsche’s ideas, 20th-century philosopher Albert Camus explored humanity’s relationship with the universe through the lens of “the absurd.” Camus illustrated this concept by comparing a man with a sword facing machine guns, highlighting the absurdity of the contradiction between human intention and reality. The absurd arises from the clash between our search for meaning and the universe’s indifference.
Camus, like Nietzsche, rejected nihilistic hopelessness and instead embraced life’s absurdity as a path to finding meaningful experiences. By acknowledging the absurd, we can seek and create things that are personally significant, connecting with others who also grapple with the absurdity of existence.
Another influential thinker, Jean-Paul Sartre, offered insights into overcoming the challenge of creating one’s own meaning. Sartre argued that we are not born with a predetermined purpose; instead, we define our purpose through our choices and actions. He emphasized that “man is nothing else but what he purposes,” existing only as the sum of his actions.
This responsibility can be daunting, leading some to adopt popular beliefs mindlessly and deflect responsibility onto others—a concept Sartre termed “bad faith.” Even choosing not to choose is still a choice, highlighting the existential dilemma of embracing or relinquishing the freedom to choose.
Nietzsche, Camus, Sartre, and others recognized the crumbling foundations of meaning and dedicated their work to preserving a framework for us. Today, we have the opportunity to build our own lives on this foundation, free from the constraints of a singular grand meaning. While this task is challenging, it is also ripe with opportunity. We can create and shape our world using our own designs.
The struggle within the uncertainty and responsibility of life is perhaps the price of the gift of existence. We are reminded of the beauty and potential of life, able to take its materials and craft something meaningful. The universe has given us a blank page to write on, and it is up to us to define the meaning of meaning itself.
If you found these ideas intriguing, consider exploring more in “The Art of Living: A Meaningless Existence,” a collection of essays that delve into philosophy and concepts similar to those discussed here. The journey of understanding and creating meaning is a profound one, offering endless opportunities for personal growth and discovery.
Engage in a structured debate with your classmates on the topic: “Is the pursuit of universal meaning in life futile?” Use Nietzsche’s and Camus’s perspectives to support your arguments. This will help you critically analyze different philosophical viewpoints and articulate your own understanding of meaning.
Participate in a workshop where you create a piece of art, music, or writing that reflects your personal interpretation of meaning. This activity encourages you to explore Nietzsche’s idea of personal creative expression and subjective greatness.
Take part in a role-playing exercise where you embody the “Übermensch” or “Overman.” Set personal goals and discuss with peers how you would overcome fears and limitations to achieve them. This exercise will help you understand Nietzsche’s concept of self-overcoming.
Analyze a piece of modern media (film, TV show, or advertisement) that exemplifies the theme of absurdity. Present your analysis to the class, highlighting how it reflects Camus’s ideas about the absurd and the search for meaning in an indifferent universe.
Keep a journal for a week documenting your daily choices and reflect on how they contribute to your sense of purpose. Discuss how Sartre’s concept of freedom and responsibility influences your decision-making process. This activity will help you explore the existential dilemma of choice and meaning.
This episode of After Skool was written and narrated by Robert Pantano, the creator of Pursuit of Wonder. Check out more videos on Pursuit of Wonder’s YouTube channel.
Our knowledge, conditions, and capabilities as a species have progressed at remarkable rates. Yet, with each new generation in the modern world, it seems we continue to sink into greater states of hopelessness and cynicism. There is an underlying tension between each new generation—from Gen X to Millennials, Millennials to Gen Z, and likely whatever comes next—characterized by an increasing degree of pessimism that makes previous generations appear almost optimistic.
This sentiment is reflected in media, art, advertising, and humor, where irony and disillusionment have become prevalent. To paraphrase 19th-century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, optimism is dead, and we have played a role in its demise. Many of us have outgrown comfortable, short-sighted narratives about life. With increasing knowledge and awareness, we find ourselves in a realm where there appears to be no clear narrative or reason for existence. What we seem to be left with is a sense of absurdity and meaninglessness.
This may be one of the greatest contemporary issues facing humankind: finding motivation and a sense of meaning in a time when existence seems to lack inherent purpose. To address this problem of meaninglessness, it can be helpful to look back to the late 19th century. Here, Nietzsche positioned himself at the forefront of the disintegration of meaning in the Western world. A primary aim of his work centered on this issue. At the foundation of Nietzsche’s philosophy was the recognition that there is no universal objective truth to be discovered in life—only interpretations. He argued that the pursuit of universal objectivity or meaning detracts from the present human experience, which is inherently subjective and expressive.
Nietzsche suggested that individuals should turn away from dependence on universal truths, collective experiences, or cultural mechanisms for meaning. Instead, he placed the creation of meaning squarely in the hands of the individual, advocating for the personal pursuit of creative expression and subjective greatness. This philosophy is embodied in what Nietzsche termed the “Übermensch” or “Overman,” introduced in his book “Thus Spoke Zarathustra.” The Overman is depicted as a confident, independent individual who pursues personal desires vigorously and unapologetically, deviating from the collective and exhibiting a form of strategic selfishness.
Nietzsche believed that a new morality, opposing traditional views that praise weakness and modesty, was necessary to better suit the natural human experience, which involves a desire for vigor, power, and greatness. While this view has faced critiques and misinterpretations, what is perhaps more important is what the concept of the Overman represents. Nietzsche sets up the Overman as an idealized version of oneself—an image of a powerful being who has overcome fears and deficiencies. This ideal serves as a goal for self-growth, fueling a continuous cycle of self-dissatisfaction, self-improvement, and self-rediscovery.
For Nietzsche, this process of self-overcoming is fundamental to addressing the problem of meaning and value in life. By establishing personal goals aligned with an idealized, life-affirming version of oneself, life can become worthwhile and redeemable. As Nietzsche stated, “If we have our own why in life, we shall get along with almost any how.”
Several decades later, 20th-century writer and philosopher Albert Camus emerged, largely picking up the baton from Nietzsche. Camus defined humanity’s relationship with the universe and our pursuit of meaning within it as “the absurd.” He illustrated this concept by comparing a man armed only with a sword attacking a group of machine guns, highlighting the absurdity born from the contradiction between intention and reality.
The absurdity lies not in humanity or the universe alone, but in their relationship. As we seek meaning, reason, and order, the universe responds with none of these, creating a fundamental contradiction. Like Nietzsche, Camus rejects nihilistic hopelessness and instead encourages embracing the absurdity of life as a means of finding worthy experiences. To recognize and accept life’s absurdity allows us to seek and create things that are interesting and personally meaningful.
Camus suggests that in acknowledging our absurdity, we can better connect with others, understanding that everyone struggles against the absurd. While the concepts from Nietzsche and Camus are valuable, significant challenges remain in creating one’s own meaning. One particularly difficult challenge is deciding how to navigate an infinite number of choices regarding one’s ideal self and what to strive for.
The anxiety of making the right choice can be overwhelming. Ironically, the choice we make in response to this anxiety may be the most important choice of all. Around the same time as Camus, 20th-century French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre provided useful insights for overcoming this hurdle. Sartre argued that since we are not created with a specific purpose, we create our purpose through our choices and actions. He stated that “man is nothing else but what he purposes,” existing only as the sum of his actions.
This responsibility can feel overwhelming, leading to a tendency to mindlessly assimilate popular beliefs and deflect responsibility onto others. Sartre referred to this as “bad faith,” a form of self-deception that denies our freedom. Even choosing not to choose is still a choice, and there is no escaping the necessity of choice. This is the fundamental existential dilemma: to choose or not to choose. In this choice, one either embraces the anguish of human freedom or relinquishes it, either building a life of intention or living complacently.
Nietzsche, Camus, Sartre, and others recognized the crumbling foundations of meaning and made it part of their life’s work to preserve some of the groundwork for us. What we are left with now is that foundation upon which we must build our own lives. We must realize that this condition is not barren but ripe with opportunity. It allows us to no longer be subservient to a specific grand meaning or template of life. We can create and build in this world using our own designs.
While this is undoubtedly challenging, the struggle within the whirlpool of uncertainty, absurdity, and responsibility is perhaps the unavoidable price of the gift of life. We are reminded of the beauty and potential of existence, able to take the materials of life and create something meaningful. We have the opportunity to understand and create the meaning of meaning itself, simply because we can. The universe has given us a blank page to write on.
We hope you enjoyed this collaboration, which includes modified excerpts from my book “The Art of Living: A Meaningless Existence.” If you enjoyed this video, be sure to check it out. It’s a collection of essays that explore philosophy and grapple with ideas similar to those discussed here. The link is in the description below.
Meaning – The significance or underlying message of a concept, text, or action, often explored in philosophical and literary contexts to understand human experience. – In his existentialist writings, Sartre delves into the meaning of life, questioning whether it is something we create or discover.
Absurdity – The quality or state of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable, often used in philosophy to describe the conflict between human tendencies to seek inherent value and the indifferent universe. – Camus’ “The Myth of Sisyphus” explores the absurdity of life, suggesting that humans must find their own purpose in a world devoid of meaning.
Freedom – The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint, a central theme in existential philosophy. – In “Being and Nothingness,” Sartre argues that freedom is both a gift and a burden, as it requires individuals to take full responsibility for their choices.
Choice – The act of selecting among alternatives, a fundamental concept in existentialism where individuals are seen as defined by their decisions. – Kierkegaard posits that the anxiety of choice is an essential part of the human condition, as it reflects our freedom and responsibility.
Pessimism – A tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen, often discussed in philosophical contexts regarding human nature and the future. – Schopenhauer’s philosophy is rooted in pessimism, asserting that human desires lead to suffering and that life is ultimately a struggle.
Interpretation – The action of explaining the meaning of something, particularly in literature and philosophy, where multiple perspectives can offer different insights. – Gadamer’s hermeneutics emphasizes that interpretation is a dialogical process, where understanding is shaped by both the text and the reader’s context.
Existence – The state of being, especially in philosophical discussions about the nature and purpose of life. – Heidegger’s exploration of existence, or “Dasein,” focuses on the individual’s experience of being in the world and the quest for authenticity.
Creativity – The use of imagination or original ideas to create something, often seen as a fundamental aspect of human expression and philosophical inquiry. – Nietzsche celebrates creativity as a form of self-overcoming, where individuals transcend societal norms to create their own values.
Self-overcoming – The process of transcending one’s limitations or previous self, a concept in Nietzschean philosophy where individuals strive to surpass their current state. – Nietzsche’s idea of the Übermensch is rooted in self-overcoming, encouraging individuals to continually evolve and redefine themselves.
Philosophy – The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, often considered a discipline that seeks to understand the world and our place in it. – Plato’s philosophy laid the groundwork for Western thought, exploring ideas of justice, beauty, and the ideal state.
