Consciousness, Literature and the Arts

 

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Volume 11 Number 2, August 2010

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A RESPONSE TO CAMUS’S JOYFUL SISYPHE  (and Bruce Sarbit’s gobsmacking explication,“The Rock Still Rolls”)

 

the world, the universe does respond

I think Camus (and gang) overlooked that

 

we may have absurd, irrational desires

and visions which may or may not succeed

the universe may indeed not care for you (specifically)

but it does respond to questions, questions

properly asked and processed

 

no, never in absolute terms

though 2 and 2 equals 4

everywhere and at anytime

 

we do do stupid and absurd things

but the universe cannot

truly be said to be absolutely indifferent

because when we ask questions

say, about atoms and stars

we do get answers.  Sometimes

they’re provisional

till we come up with a better

question

 

but isn’t that

exactly reciprocity –

a kind of collaboration

a sympathy

even?  We can choose anything, yes.

(okay, within constraints) 

but when we choose

against the universe

we get answers

we don’t like

 

the story goes that Einstein said to Bohr

“God does not play dice with the universe”

to which Bohr answered, “it’s not up to you

what God does or doesn’t do.”

 

our condition is not absurd

it’s complicated

 

- P.K. Brask