Sunday, April 30, 2017

Albert Camus and absurdism


Photo source: Wikimedia Commons, United Press International

Albert Camus (1913-1960) is a famous philosopher best known for his contributions to absurdism. Ottar G. Draugsvold said,
"As a writer Camus maintained his independence from both friends and enemies in the political and philosophical movements that attempted to subvert his writing to their own ends... Camus combines a taut writing style, as well as profound insights on society, with the courage to report back from the abyss of despair, unblinking." (Nobel Writers on Writing, 2000)
The rest of this post is some quotes from Camus.

Absurdism


"The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth." (The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays, 1942)

"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy." (The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays, 1942)

"The realization that life is absurd cannot be an end, but only a beginning. This is a truth nearly all great minds have taken as their starting point. It is not this discovery that is interesting, but the consequences and rules of action drawn from it." (Review of Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre, 1938)

"Life can be magnificent and overwhelming - that is its whole tragedy. Without beauty, love, or danger it would be almost easy to live." (Review of Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre, 1938)