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  • Writer's pictureSaga Foss

Albert Camus on Dealing With the Absurdity of Life

Albert Camus, the renowned philosopher and revolutionary hero, encountered numerous obstacles. His father perished from wounds sustained during World War I, he lived in poverty with his mother, and he joined the French resistance against the Nazis.


He authored numerous influential works on the life and its significance, including The Myth of Sisyphus. He was also one of the most influential intellectual figures during the Cold War.


Albert Camus, born and raised in a world of solitude, was profoundly troubled by the question of life's significance. He believed it could never have significance because it was incredible by nature.


Nevertheless, he believed it was possible to deal with this absurdity. According to Camus, there are three possible responses to the absurd: "quit" (suicide), assume it's not real, or revolt.

"Quit" is not an option for Camus because it is a form of evasion; "pretend" is also not an option; and "revolt" is the only authentic response to the absurdity of life.

This rebellion against the unthinkable has become Camus' most well-known and influential philosophical concept. As much as it provides an intellectual outlook on life, it seeks to inspire freedom, rebellion, and decadence. This philosophy has long influenced poets, artists, and rock musicians.


Maintaining a lucid awareness of the absurdity of life tends to inspire rebellion, a sense of outrage and protest against one's lamentable condition, and a defiant refusal to be broken by it.


The word rebellion is derived from the French and Italian revolt, which is most likely derived from ri- with the verb voltage or perhaps Vulgar Latin *revolvitare, frequentative of revolve (meaning "to roll back"). (through its past participle revolutions). As an intransitive verb, revolt means "to experience disgust." Your stomach may revolt at being forced to consume cauliflower once more.


The author of The Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus, believes that freedom is essential for contending with the absurdity of life. He explains about human existence is a conflict between the human need for significance, meaning, and clarity and the universe's unreasonable silence.


In his writings, Camus frequently employs the term "revolt" to describe how humans contend with their ludicrous existence. Camus believed this natural and healthy impulse stemmed from "the yearning for unity" shared by all humans.


Freedom is, among other things, the ability to express our opinions and points of view without undue restrictions. In addition, financial freedom is frequently associated with the notion that we can purchase anything we desire and pay for it without owing anyone money.


Camus believed the only way to deal with this conflict was to recognize and embrace this reality. It is possible, according to him, to occupy the vacuum with invented beliefs or meaning but doing so would constitute an act of deception.


Suicide (or retreat) is another way individuals avoid this reality. It is a solution that both Kierkegaard and Camus reject as inadequate and incapable of combating the absurd.

In Camus's philosophy, the absurd is a fundamental tension or discrepancy between our desire to pose ultimate questions and our inability to find satisfactory answers. This paradox forms the basis of his work and continues to challenge his readers.


Therefore, the answer to coping with the absurdity of existence is to find meaning in something. This can include investigating your interests and aspirations.


Identifying one's passions may not be simple, but it is worth the effort. After identifying them, devote time to developing behaviours and acquiring skills.


A passion is not a singular event but a way of life. This can entail engaging in new activities and pursuits that align with your inclinations and embracing opportunities you may not have previously considered.


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