In This Selection Nagel Reflects on the Sense of Absurdity

question 15

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 believes that we should approach our absurd lives with irony.

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Definitions:

Psychological Intimacy

Emotional and psychological closeness to other team or group members.

Emotional and Psychological

Pertaining to the feelings, thoughts, and mental processes of an individual.

Group Members

Individuals who belong to a specific group and contribute towards the collective goals and dynamics of the group.

Social Loafing

The tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone.