In This Selection Nagel Reflects on the Sense of Absurdity

question 5

True/False

In this selection Nagel reflects on the sense of absurdity that most of us feel from time to time. The sense of absurdity arises, he says, from the "collision between the seriousness with which we take our lives and the perpetual possibility of regarding everything about which we are serious as arbitrary, or open to doubt." Nagel thinks that Camus's response to the absurd (defiance or scorn) is inappropriate; it's "romantic and slightly self-pitying." He prefers instead to approach the absurd with acceptance, with irony instead of heroism or despair.
-Nagel says that none of us actually takes life seriously.

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Definitions:

Confined

Restricted in space or area; being in a situation that limits freedom of movement or action.

Herbert Simon

An American economist, political scientist, and cognitive psychologist known for his contributions to the theory of decision-making and problem-solving in organizations.

Emotions

Complex psychological states that involve physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experience.

Conscious

The state of being aware of and able to think about one's surroundings, thoughts, and feelings.