The philosophy of absurdism | What is the point of life? | A-Z of ISMs Episode 1 - BBC Ideas – YouTube Dictation Transcript & Vocabulary
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Interactive Transcript & Highlights for Dictation
1.The A to Z of -isms
2.Absurdism
3.Most philosophical -isms are attempts to make sense of the world
4.Who are we
5.Why are we
💡 Tap the highlighted words to see definitions and examples
Key Vocabulary (CEFR C1)
especially
A2(manner) In a special manner; specially.
Example:
"writer, NF Simpson,who wasn't really an absurdist at all but is very, very funny indeed, especially"
question
B2A sentence, phrase or word which asks for information, reply or response; an interrogative.
Example:
"this topic at all. It's called absurdism. In answer to the question, "What is the meaning"
worries
A2A strong feeling of anxiety.
Example:
"of life?" Absurdism says, there isn't any. No meaning. No point. No worries. Life is"
reality
B2The state of being actual or real.
Example:
"was pioneered by the Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, who said that, "As the reality"
choosing
A2To pick; to make the choice of; to select.
Example:
"the 20th Century, absurdists removed the concept of God entirely from the equation, choosing"
movement
B2Physical motion between points in space.
Example:
"notably, absurdism spawned the Theatre of the Absurd, probably the only theatrical movement"
inspired
A2To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by inspiration.
Example:
"inspired by philosophy. The Theatre of the Absurd gave us the French writer, Eugène"
british
A2A A2-level word commonly used in this context.
Example:
"rhinoceroses. The Irish genius, Samuel Beckett,whose work is less rhinoceros-based, and the British"
serious
B2Without humor or expression of happiness; grave in manner or disposition
Example:
"in his absurd masterpiece A Resounding Tinkle. Beckett, by the way, could also be very serious"
perhaps
A2An uncertainty.
Example:
"perhaps this is why absurdism will never really go away."
| Word | CEFR | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| especially | A2 | (manner) In a special manner; specially. |
| question | B2 | A sentence, phrase or word which asks for information, reply or response; an interrogative. |
| worries | A2 | A strong feeling of anxiety. |
| reality | B2 | The state of being actual or real. |
| choosing | A2 | To pick; to make the choice of; to select. |
| movement | B2 | Physical motion between points in space. |
| inspired | A2 | To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by inspiration. |
| british | A2 | A A2-level word commonly used in this context. |
| serious | B2 | Without humor or expression of happiness; grave in manner or disposition |
| perhaps | A2 | An uncertainty. |
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