How being 'absurd' ≠ being weird, and why it’s needed in tech

The philosophy and its principles

Absurdism as a philosophical theory acknowledges and accepts that life is ‘meaninglessness’ by default, and encourages us to create our own subjective meaning. Key points of this paradigm include:

• Acknowledging meaninglessness. Absurdism recognizes that life is inherently meaningless and devoid of objective value. This, though, does not mean that life is worthless, just that there is no specific purpose.
• Creating personal meaning. Despite the lack of objective meaning, absurdism suggests that individuals can give their own lives meaning by assigning significance to things that bring them joy, fulfillment, and contentment.
• Embracing the absurd. Rather than giving up to hopelessness, absurdism invites us to confront the absurdity of existence head-on. This involves living with the awareness of the mundane life and finding ways to make it meaningful.
• Living in the present. By focusing on the present moment and engaging in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment, it will help create a sense of purpose and direction, even if it is not based on an objective meaning.

It might seem a little bit abstract or given, but implementing ‘absurdism’ does not come naturally to some people. In contrast, too much efforts to find meaning often lead to further confusion and frustration.

Learn more about the concept of absurdism here and more deeply here , or watch the breakdown of this theory on YouTube here .

How it will benefit you, daily

Not just at a fundamental, philosophical level, absurdism is helpful in elevating your routines as well.

In its essence, absurdism promotes free thinking and questions established norms, encouraging you to foster exploration without judgment or constraint.

Here’s how this advantages various areas of your life:

1. Freedom and creativity. Absurdism loves those who try to look at things in new ways, stimulating innovation. Something does not have to be necessarily ‘wrong’ for you to be able to see it differently. Real-life example: When you find a better way of working that is more efficient, even though the current one is not very costly either.
2. Challenges norms. Absurdism helps you question your values and surroundings. It encourages you to look inside yourself and see how your own beliefs might be affecting what you think is ‘normal’ behavior. Real-life example: Feedback culture and continuous improvement require you to reassess your methods for better results.
3. Encourages exploration. Absurdism doesn't want you to stick to just one idea or philosophy, but rather demands you to explore difficult questions in a very open and critical way. Real-life example: To address an issue, you gather insights from different teams who use different approaches, making your solution rich and fruitful.
4. Removes judgment. Absurdism sees a vulnerability in all humans, enabling us to find common ground. It regards human behavior as a coping mechanism or reaction to uncertainty. Real-life example: When a conflict arises, you are able to put yourself in the other person’s shoes, open to understanding where their problem is coming form.
5. Cultivates resilience. Absurdism embraces challenges as natural aspects of the human experience. It does not shy away from the fact that life is uncertain, and setbacks are inevitable. Real-life example: Somedays you’ll feel great, other days getting out of bed feels impossible. Despite all that, you take control and decide how you want your day to go.

Absurdism manifests into so many different forms in our lives. Depending on the field of work you implement it in, it will benefit you differently as well.

Read more on Absurdism and its relationship with psychology here , or more of it as a mindset in daily life here .

Seeing downsides with absurdism

The philosophy of absurdism and its framework can be surprisingly relevant to the tech industry, where everyone is always trying to innovate and improve, often leading to unexpected problems.

Some ways absurdism explains shortcomings of the tech industry include:

The Sisyphean Task of Tech Innovations

When companies mass-produce without understanding their market, they're just like Sisyphus pushing his boulder up a hill only to have it roll back down. This is similar to people trying to find meaning in a world with vast technology.

The Paradox of Technological Convenience

The comforts of technology can make people feel numb, causing them to forget the value of hard work and effort. This is similar to Huxley's idea where the quest for progress leads to people becoming overly dependent on technology.

The Absurdity of Artificial Intelligence

Growing reliance on AI can both boost and hinder productivity. It leads to absurdities like designing error-prone systems and the irony of creating machines that control us while we think we're in charge.

Being aware of and understanding the concept of absurdism will help you steer away from the unwanted outcomes above.

Find more connections between Absurdism and our modern society in the full piece here .

This week’s Monday Mavens edition might be on the heavier side, but hopefully it will make the rest of your week seem lighter!

Do you feel that you’re already adopting the Absurdism mindset, or are you interested to incorporate it more and more in your daily life?

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