Breaking The Loop
You get up, eat breakfast. You go to work, come home. You have dinner, do some chores, take a little break, go to bed, and then do it all over again. Repeating the same day over and over again. This Groundhog Day-esque reality is real life for many, and if it is not this exact routine, it is something similar. After a while, you start noticing it. You begin to think about yourself and your habits and realize that you are just going through the motions, not really living but just moving through life without purpose or excitement.
Photography by Karina Drozdova & Mikko Haapeniemi
Eternal Recurrence:
The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche analyses this concept in his book Thus Spoke Zarathustra, where he proposes his idea of “Eternal Recurrence”. In his work, Nietzsche asks us to imagine our lives over and over again, exactly as they are, with all the joys and sorrows, triumphs and failures, repeated infinitely. He challenges the individual to consider whether they would be willing to live their life repeatedly in its entirety. This concept serves as a thought experiment designed to provoke a deep reflection on the value of one ́s life. Nietzsche is interested in whether a person could embrace their life to the extent that they would affirm andwelcome its repetition.
Nietzsche proposes this idea as a response to the philosophical view of Nihilism: “The belief that rejects or denies the existence of inherent meaning, purpose, or value in life”. Embracing the eternal recurrence is a way for Nietzsche to challenge indivi- duals to actively create meaning in their lives. If one accepts the idea that their lives will be repeated infinitely, it becomes crucial to make choices and engage in actions that are worth repeating.
However, eternal recurrence is just an idea and not a solution. Nietzsche wants us to be aware of the actions we make in our life and to “live a life worth living” so that you would be content if it were to be repeated. But in order to find ideas of how this meaning can be created we need to look elsewhere. Below, two ideas are presented that explore how meaning can be found and making sure actions are aligned with purpose.
Photography by Karina Drozdova & Mikko Haapeniemi
Embracing the Absurd
In 1942, French philosopher Albert Camus wrote an essay titled The myth of Sisyphus, based on an ancient Greek tale. According to the myth, Sisyphus was condemned by the gods to roll a large boulder up a hill, but just as he neared the top, the boulder would roll back down, and he would have to start the task again. This process would repeat for eternity. Sisyphus ́s task, repetitive and ultimately fruitless, reflects the absurdity and total futility of human endeavours. However, despite the meaningless nature of Sisyphus ́s task, Camus argues that one must imagine Sisyphus happy. The act of acknowledging and embracing the absurdity of life becomes a form of defiance and liberation.
This concept can be directly connected with the eternal recurrence and works as a method to find meaning, or at least acceptance, which helps a person be content in life. Acceptance of the inherent absurdity of life is the starting point. Recognizing that certain aspects of existence may lack inherent meaning is crucial. Despite the absurdity, individuals can rebel against meaninglessness by choosing to live authentically. This rebellion involves making conscious choices and finding personal meaning in one ́s actions. While certain tasks may appear meaningless in themselves, individuals have the power to ascribe meaning to their actions. Meaning is a subjective creation, and even seemingly mundane tasks can be infused with significance.
Embracing the present moment also becomes essential. Instead of being preoccupied with an uncertain future or dwelling on the past, finding meaning in the current experience contributes to living authentically. Authenticity being defined by Albert Camus as living fully in the present moment, taking responsibility for one ́s choices and maintaining integrity and honesty in one ́s actions. Although individuals may not always have control over external circumstances, they have control over their attitudes and responses. Choosing a positive and meaningful attitude can shape one’s experience.
The awareness of the absurd does not lead to despair but can be the foundation for a liberated and cons- cious existence. Sisyphus ́s perseverance becomes a symbol of human freedom in the face of a seemingly indifferent universe.
However, it is important to remember that philosophical interpretations, such as the myth of Sisyphus, have a subjective nature and there are opposing viewpoints that criticise the thought of absurdity. The most prevalent ones are various religions. Many theological philosophies propose that life has a purpose or an ultimate end goal. They would argue that the struggles faced by Sisyphus should be seen as part of a larger, meaningful narrative leading to a positive outcome.
Photography by Karina Drozdova & Mikko Haapeniemi
Escaping the Kafkaesque Reality
The Czech author Franz Kafka explored a nightmarish world in his books The Trial and Metamorphosis. A Kafkaesque reality is, however, reality for many. It is a system with complex bureaucraticstructures and the people within these structures often find themselves trapped, powerless, alienated, and struggling to navigate the bureaucratic systems that seem hostile. It is a meaningless reality with repeated actions.
The works of Kafka offer us insight into how we can escape this Kafkaesque structure and propose more active measures on how we can work with eternal recurrence, compared to Albert Camus. In his book The Trial, Kafka writes that challenging the assumptions and norms of oppressive systems can be a way to assert personal agency (i.e., critical thinking and asserting one ́s rights). He says that in Kafkaesque societies, individuals often face situations where authority figures make decisions without clear explanations or justifications. Questioning authority works as a way to seek clarity and not accepting things at face value. This also allows for transparency and individuals can demand a clear understanding of the rules and processes that impact their lives.
Further, Kafka highlights the dehumanizing effects of oppressive bureaucratic systems. He says that the awareness of one ́s dignity and humanity is a crucial aspect of maintaining personal freedom in Kafkaesque environments. Like Albert Camus, Kafka mentions the absurdity of bureaucratic processes and says that acknowledging the absurdity and irrationality of systems, while maintaining one ́s integrity, is necessary in order to withhold personal morale, values and self-respect.
As with the myth of Sisyphus, there are also opposing views to the thought of Kafkaesque realities. Critics often argue that bureaucratic structures are necessary for maintaining order and efficiency in society and therefore criticise Kafka for exaggerating reality and portraying an inaccurate representation. They argue that a pragmatic view would be to acknowledge the challenges of bureaucracy but see them as practical necessities for managing large-scale societal functions.
When being trapped in a loop of repetitive existence, Nietzsche’s eternal recurrence reminds us that our actions bear meaning. That if our lives were to be repeated, we must be happy with its repetition. Countless philosophical ideas have emerged trying to answer the question regarding meaning and even though none is without opposing views, the two mentioned in this text give a nuanced viewpoint on the question of eternal recurrence. The Sisyphean task, symbolizing the struggle against the absurdity of relentless routine, urges us to find fulfilment and meaning in the actions that we undertake. And amidst the Kafkaesque complexities of bureaucratic entanglement and oppressive systems, the call to question authority, preserving personal dignity, and resisting dehumanization become crucial instruments in breaking free from the shackles of monotonous cycles.
Photography by Karina Drozdova & Mikko Haapeniemi