An existentialist firefighter

For the other philosophy geeks here, the Onion has got another humorous story you’ll enjoy, rooted in existentialist themes:

In an ultimately futile act some have described as courageous and others have called a mere postponing of the inevitable, existentialist firefighter James Farber delayed three deaths Monday.

“I’m no hero,” Farber said after rescuing the family from a house fire on the 2500 block of West Thacker Street, and prolonging for the time being their slow march toward oblivion. “Like any other man, I am thrown into this world, alone and terrified, to play a meaningless role in an empty life. In my case, that role happens to involve charging through towering blazes to pull helpless individuals from a sea of flames before they suffocate or are burnt alive.”…

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Brynn Jacobs

is a full-time wage slave and part-time philosopher, writing and living just outside Omaha with his lovely wife and two feline roommates.

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Avatar of Niklaus Pfisig
    Niklaus Pfisig

    As an existentialist, I found the article really funny, because it plays up the existentialist stereotype of angst and alienation.

  2. Avatar of Lori
    Lori

    This is vaguely reminiscent of the 'liberal cop' in the Hitchhiker's Guide trilogy.

  3. Avatar of Erich Vieth
    Erich Vieth

    Hilarious. I wish I had thought of this, and I was a philosophy major.

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