Sisyphean
Sisyphean describes labour that is endless and futile, after the mythological king condemned to roll a boulder uphill forever.
Full definition of Sisyphean →:: COMPARE ::
Sisyphean labourvsNihilism
The short answer
Both deny the universe supplies meaning; the absurdist refuses the conclusion that you should therefore stop. Camus rejects suicide and religious hope alike and lands on revolt — which is why the boulder is a symbol of defiance in his hands rather than of despair.
Side by side
| Aspect | Sisyphean labour | Nihilism |
|---|---|---|
| The task is | Futile and continued | Futile and abandoned |
| Response | Revolt | Withdrawal |
| Hope | Refused as an escape | Irrelevant |
| Camus | Wrote it | Rejected it |
What each one means
Nihilism
Nihilism is the position that some whole domain we take seriously — morality, knowledge, or meaning — has no real foundation at all.
Full definition of Nihilism →