Existentialism doesn’t necessarily claim that nothing matters, so yours sounds more like optimistic nihilism, which is very similar if not identical to absurdism.
You can do neither. Knowing that there’s no inherent meaning to existence isn’t for everyone. And I would argue that it’s better to not be a nihilist at all than to be a pessimistic one.
The absurdism depicted isn’t pure absurdism because there’s the presence of style, which is a system of meaning and value. So, as depicted, that’s more existentialism or a healthy and cool blend of absurdism with existentialism.
Don’t we try to categorize everything though? Like, could you wear a combination of items without someone trying to categorize it into a style? If it were true that you cannot, absurdist style would be impossible to depict visually.
Upon further reflection, I discovered I don’t fully understand the nuances. So I tried to think it through.
I think it goes as follows:
Nihilism says there is no meaning so any pursuit whatsoever is futile. (Not goal based.)
Existentialism says there is no universal meaning but it is the individual who creates meaning. So we project our meaning into the world and live in it and therefore live in a meaningful world. We should search for our personal meaning. (Goal based.)
Absurdism says there is no universal meaning and if there is, we’ll never understand it. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy transient pseudo-meanings, though. In fact, we SHOULD enjoy them. But we should be aware that they’re not eternal and not objective. (Not goal based.)
So, on second thought, I think the meme does a great a job at capturing absurdism. Still, the difference between existentialism and absurdism is subtle.
What do you all think? Is that kinda the idea?
I wonder if Existentialists or Absurdists consider our biological reality and needs when developing the ideas. For instance, we need food, shelter, social acceptance, and so forth. What does this say about “meaning” and pursuits like fashion and style (as it relates to social acceptance?). How does Maslow’s hierarchy of needs fit in with these philosophies?