Consciousness, Literature and the Arts
Archive
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