Sisyphus

[The Sum of Awe]

What if Sisyphus gave up trying? What prevents him from doing so?

 

[Sunstone]

Great question!

As I interpret the myth, Sisyphus represents the human condition. That is, it is human nature to endlessly struggle for such things as peace, fairness, justice, reason, wisdom, etc. But we so seldom seem to fully succeed, and all our efforts might at any moment come crashing down in, say, a world war. So why do we keep at it? Why not resign ourselves war, injustice, irrationality, etc.? Of course some of us do just that. But why don't we all?

I think, Sum, we live in a world in which we make our own meaning and purpose. There is no god-given meaning and purpose for us. And so, we are free to choose the meaning and purpose that is truest to our individual natures. For some of us, that might mean resigning themselves to war, injustice, etc. For others, that might mean never resigning themselves to those things. It boils down, perhaps, to a question of what makes us who we are.

Naturally, there are other interpretations of the myth besides my own.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

That was nicely said, and I've interpreted it similarly; a model for the condition in which we set in ourselves that we do meaningless things, looking forward to different results that will not come.

Thanks for the response!

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Great question!

As I interpret the myth, Sisyphus represents the human condition. That is, it is human nature to endlessly struggle for such things as peace, fairness, justice, reason, wisdom, etc. But we so seldom seem to fully succeed, and all our efforts might at any moment come crashing down in, say, a world war. So why do we keep at it? Why not resign ourselves war, injustice, irrationality, etc.? Of course some of us do just that. But why don't we all?

I think, Sum, we live in a world in which we make our own meaning and purpose. There is no god-given meaning and purpose for us. And so, we are free to choose the meaning and purpose that is truest to our individual natures. For some of us, that might mean resigning themselves to war, injustice, etc. For others, that might mean never resigning themselves to those things. It boils down, perhaps, to a question of what makes us who we are.

Naturally, there are other interpretations of the myth besides my own.

This reminds me of Albert Camus' interpretation of Sisyphus, Sunstone.

He can give up, but presumably in one way: by giving up his negative viewpoint of suffering. He is cursed by the gods, he cannot give up his punishment. But he can start to enjoy the journey, monotonous as it is.

Perhaps that mind-switch is the only thing to release him from the gods' punishment.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I think of Sisyphus whenever I have to do laundry.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

This reminds me of Albert Camus' interpretation of Sisyphus, Sunstone.

He can give up, but presumably in one way: by giving up his negative viewpoint of suffering. He is cursed by the gods, he cannot give up his punishment. But he can start to enjoy the journey, monotonous as it is.

Perhaps that mind-switch is the only thing to release him from the gods' punishment.

That sounds a lot like stoicism