Albert Camus was born in Mondavi, French Algeria on November 7, 1913. He grew up in a working-class neighborhood of Algiers, however, despite his poor socio-economical circumstance he excelled in school and even participated in sports. He graduated from the University of Algiers with graduate and undergraduate degrees in philosophy. As a young man, he joined the French Resistance where he met his contemporary Jean-Paul Sartre. During and after WW2, Camus wrote books, philosophical essays, and plays about existentialist and absurdist philosophy. He would receive a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957, but he would unfortunately die a few years later in a car accident in 1960.
Arguably, his biggest contribution to philosophy is his 1942 essay The Myth of Sisyphus. In this essay, Camus introduces the idea of the absurd which is the conflict between the human mind and the universe. To elaborate, the absurd is the contradiction that is caused when humans search for meaning in a meaningless universe. Camus states that there are three ways to deal with the absurd: suicide, philosophical suicide, or acceptance of the absurd. He claims that the only viable way to deal with the absurd is to accept it. Camus proceeds to paint what the ideal absurd life looks like: a life full of the pursuit of passion. In his closing statements, Camus relates the absurd life to that of Sisyphus' plight. One must find Sisyphus happy in order to grasp what it means to live an absurd life.
Discussion Questions
1. Why do you believe it is so difficult for humans to
accept the notion that life has no meaning?
2. Do you consider the other solutions to living in an
absurd world viable? I.e. taking a leap of faith or killing yourself.
3. What might be some other examples of an absurd life?
Why do you think Camus refers to taking a leap of faith as philosophical suicide?
Sources Links:
1.https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/s/the-stranger/albert-camus-biography
2. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1957/camus/biographical/
“The Conquest of Happiness” by Bertrand Russell was presented as advice for modern individuals to live their life to the fullest with few self inflicted setbacks. Bertrand believed philosophy was a branch of logic. Many turned to Russel with questions about any and everything so he soon used that as a source of income for himself soon after. Russel was an anti-war activist during the first war, and wrote lectures about wanting others to reevaluate their principles while sometimes imprisoned. Russel’s first views in chapter one is that you should first ask yourself if you are happy or exceptional then go on to read the faces and feel the emotions of your friends or people who pass by daily. He says “let go of your ego, and let the personalities of strangers take over”. The second chapter introduces the term “ Byronic Unhappiness” which means that some people believe that being unhappy makes them superior in a sense and Bertrand Russell explained as an example that “most people proud to be miserable aren’t even truly miserable”. I guess as a sort of façade which I never correlated to my own life until I realized that classmates of mine in middle school would play that character for looks and stares. To branch off of the chapter Russell says that those “miserable’ could actually be sad without knowing why exactly they see the world as it is. The story of Byron tells that “when knowledge increases then sorrow increases” as well. The “struggle for life” with being a victim with greed is the concept of pursuing to success so you can ease anxious thoughts after competing with other’s success so you can be truly happy in life. Boredom, lack of excitement, and excessive fatigue become a “vague evil” and stunts growth while being temporarily incapable for energy for happiness especially some without alcohol. People whose life revolves around being envious of others also soon condition themselves to have strong levels of resentment in their hearts leading themselves to not open up or allowed to be favored. The sense of sin and fear of public opinion as well separate people from their valued theology and morals. How to increase happiness in the world means to increase the tolerance of acceptance in other’s in society
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ReplyDeleteQuestion 1 - I believe that humans have a hard time accepting that life has no meaning because humans usually have a natural desire for living life to the fullest, or a living a happy life. Humans each have their own definition of “their purpose” in life. Most humans can not comprehend a life without a purpose.
ReplyDeleteRenee - Section 7
1. Why do you believe it is so difficult for humans to accept the notion that life has no meaning?
I believe everyone wants to feel a sense of purpose. We each have our own understanding of purpose and the consequences of the actions we take to achieve it.
2. Do you consider the other solutions to living in an absurd world viable? I.e., taking a leap of faith or killing yourself.
I believe that the only way you can successfully achieve you goal requires taking a leap of faith. On the other hand, those who face negative consequences may choose to end their life by suicide.
3. What might be some other examples of an absurd life?
If a person likes to climb the mountain when they reach the top they must make a choice they can choose to climb down or choose to jump off the mountain. Jumping is an option because you know other people have jumped and lived. The choice to jumping off the mountain leads to another choice bungy, base jumping or repelling. And so is life, choices we make are ours to make.