Albert Camus By: Lexi Miller, Clayton Gardner, Simone Brown, Christina Le, and Beau Brennan

Biographical Information Born november 7,1913 His family had little money and his dad died in WW1, so he lived with his half deaf mother He went to the University of Algiers in algeria By 1936, he had an undergraduate and graduate degree in philosophy Came to France and became a journalist for the time in which he had his own column He also participated in theatre where he was a producer and playwright ( was in a theatre group in algeria, but it was banned for political reasons) He wrote novels and essays He contributed to the idea of absurdism He wrote The Stranger in 1942 and Plague in 1947 (examples of absurdism) The Myth Of Sisyphus also explains his theory on absurdism He was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1957

Spiritual History and Point-of -Views Camus rejected religion as an act of cowardice and philosophical suicide. An important reason why Camus rejected religion is because it is used to provide pseudo-solutions to the absurd nature of reality the fact human reasoning fits so poorly reality as we find it. A primary theme of early twentieth-century European literature and critical thought is the rise of modern mass civilization and its suffocating effects of alienation and dehumanization. This became a pervasive theme by the time Camus was establishing his literary reputation.

Albert Camus’ Philosophy Camus has been labeled a philosopher, novelist, and moralist by many, but he considers himself a writer more than anything else. He associates the term ‘philosopher’ with systematic thinking, rigorous academic training, and carefully labeled ideas. He makes a point to say that he is not a systematic or disciplined thinker, not to say that he does not have any original ideas.

Albert Camus is a down-to-Earth thinker. He is a practical thinker and applies the nature of morale and political reality. He is a here-and-now thinker. In short, Albert Camus’ philosophies do not give in to speculative theory or abstract thinking, but relates to current events and , again, down-to-Earth practical thinking. -Most of Camus’ literary works reflect his philosophies on Absurdism. -absurdism; a philosophy based on the belief that the universe is irrational and meaningless and that the search for order brings the individual into conflict with the universe

Albert Camus Responsibility Towards Society Moral Choices: Commit suicide (quit physically) Life with no purpose has no meaning Join an incomparable religion, quit mentally Camus called this “philosophical suicide” Create meaningful purposes, rebel against Embrace it or accept it and keep continuing life

Influences -Kierkegaard, Augustine main Christian influence on thoughts -Schopenhauer, Nietzsche influenced his atheist views -Descartes, Spinoza, Bergson also influenced Camus - Stendhal, melville, Dostoyevsky and Kafka were influential writers While in college, Camus’ major influences were Kierkegaard and Augusine who where the major Christian philosophers that had an impact on Camus’ thoughts. Also Schopenhauer and Nietzsche were major influence on his pessimistic and atheist views. Descartes, Spinoza, Bergson were modern philosophers that influenced Camus. Stendhal, Melville, Dostoyevsky and Kafka were influential philosophical writers that also influenced Camus during his college career.

Bibliography By Mid-century, Based on the Strength of His Three Novels (The Stranger, The Plague, and The Fall) and Two Book-length Philosophical Essays (The Myth of Sisyphus and The Rebel), He Had Achieved an International Reputation and Readership. It Was in These W. "Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2016. "Albert Camus Biography." Bio.com. Ed. Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2016. By mid-century, based on the strength of his three novels (The Stranger, The Plague, and The Fall) and two book-length philosophical essays (The Myth of Sisyphus and The Rebel), he had achieved an international reputation and readership. It was in these w, David Simpson. “Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, DePaul University, http://www.iep.utm.edu/camus/. "Albert Camus, a Most Moral Atheist." Skeptic Money. N.p., 08 Nov. 2013. Web. 03 Oct. 2016. Simpson, David. "Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy and Its Authors, n.d. "Albert Camus - Biographical." Albert Camus - Biographical. Ed. Horst Frenz. Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam,1969, 1957. Web. 03 Oct. 2016.Web. 03 Oct. 2016.