Absurdism [1] is one of three philosophical doctrines (along with existentialism [2] and nihilism [3]) that try to reconcile the fact that we live in a meaningless universe when our human tendency is to seek value and meaning in life.

Existentialism argues that we create our own meaning by living life and exercising our free will. Nihilism counters that there is no meaning and so nothing matters. Absurdism is the acceptance that life is ridiculous and by defiantly laughing at it we can live authentically.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihilism