Albert Camus

Existentialism: No More Excuses Existential ideas can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. Hamlet espouses such ideas, St. Augustine is often considered a pro-type of the movement, and though it was not officially named until after the second World War, Existentialism has, inarguably, been a major point of interest in the history of mankind. Often described as gloomy or melancholic, Existentialism is often viewed from a one dimensional perspective: Life is pointless, absurd. This is not entirely true. One might see Existentialism as a response to the often over-used victim psychology.

Questions to Consider What does personal freedom mean to you? What is an individual? What makes an individual unique or different? Are passions, by their very nature, irrational? Is rationality always a good thing? What do you believe is most important in life? Fate or free will?

What’s the point?

Key players Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, is considered the father of existentialism. Jean-Paul Sartre actually names the movement in the 1940’s; he and Camus remained close until 1955 when Camus, for reasons not entirely clear, broke ranks. At one point, Camus even denies the label of existentialist. Friedrich Neitzsche and Martin Heidegger were also key players in the modern movement. Each of these figures provided his own particular brand of existentialism (Sartre, in fact, changed his mind regarding several tenants of the philosophy)

Primary Themes 1—Emphasis on the Individual each writer takes the idea of individuality in a different direction. Personal responsibility for actions Society, even if it acts similarly, may not be blamed for the purpose of avoiding consequences The individual is free—free to make his/her own choices even if the scenario is not of their making or choosing

Themes (cont’d) 2—The central role of the passions--breaking from more traditional philosophical movements which favor reason and rationality Camus is especially passionate (notice his use of exclamation points). One should be passionate about life….furthermore, it is folly to believe that one can act solely on rationality, for that which we believe is true (reasonable) can never be separated from passions Our “truths” are merely constructs derived primarily from our environment

Themes (cont’d) 3—Human freedom political freedom and free will, especially to Kierkegaard and Sartre The relationship between freedom and reason is particularly important. Typically, rationality is associated with freedom, while we are often “slaves to our passions.” The existentialists suggest we live best and are most ourselves in terms of passion. Kierkegaard’s notion of “passionate commitment” as opposed to “detached reflection” is central. For Neitzsche, to really “exist” (live) is “becoming the person you really are.”

Existence Before Essence Kierkegaard defines “existence” as a life filled with passion, self-understanding, and commitment Nietzsche: to really “exist” is to manifest one’s talents and virtues— “becoming the person you really are” The general sensibility is the realization of one’s own “contingency.” That one might have never been born, or born in a different time or place is a reminder of how much of our lives is given to and not created by us Heidegger called this “thrownness”

Who are we? Existentialists challenge the idea that human existence is so tied up in thinking; the movement urges us to live our lives to the fullest--although what this means will take different forms. Sartre, probably the “truest” existentialist, defends the notion that “we make ourselves.” “Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself”

Existential View of Human Nature We have no predetermined nature or essence that controls what we are or what we do. We are radically free to act independently of determination by outside influences. We create our own human nature through these free choices. We also create our values through these choices. These ideas challenge the more traditional notion of essence before existence which provides for the idea that our given nature determines who and what we will become.

The Three Related Philosophical Movements Existentialism: A belief that neither human beings nor the universe has any essential nature. Human beings construct their natures (and, therefore, meaning) through their choices. Absurdism: A belief that our need for meaning is greater than the ability of the universe to be meaningful, making all philosophical positions absurd. Moralism: A philosophical enquiry into the ethical implications of the human condition.

Camus’ Existential Moralism Human beings inhabit a moral universe in which there are no absolute guidelines Nonetheless, we have an ethical sense that we try to live up to—most of us want to be “ good people, ” though it is difficult to pin down exactly what this means. (BEING A GOOD PERSON MEANS DEFINING EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS)

Camus ’ Existential Moralism Life constantly presents us with moral choices without giving us the right answers. The various ways that we try to define a moral code and live by it constitute our moral being. We define ourselves as moral beings by the choices that we make within the ethical system that we construct.

Why read Camus? Represents the “sensibility” of the movement Though Camus rejects the label, The Stranger is the epitome of the existential literature of the 1940s. Set in Algeria, in the middle of an intensifying civil war—never mentioned, of course—it concerns the fate of a rather dull young man, who gets caught up in a murder.

Mersault What is “strange” is that he seems to feel nothing; he doesn’t seem to think for himself or engage in reflection at all. He lacks a sense of morals or morality; he has no ambitions; he does not respond to love, nor does he respond to the murder—no signs of fear or guilt No feelings except for the physical sensations of heat and light, smell and taste. A life without reason is not necessarily a life of intensified feelings; people without thoughts are often without feelings, too.

The oddity of murder Was there a murder? It seems to “just happen.” Is Mersault ever the agent of his own actions? The murder scene is frightening simply because Mersault offers no reaction. What is the author’s purpose in portraying the trial of a Frenchmen condemned for the murder of a foreigner? The trial has primarily philosophical significance, much like Kafka’s The Trial in which the protagonist is put to death without ever knowing the charge.

Ultimately,... The point of the novel is the nature of guilt and innocence. But it is also a celebration of life for life’s sake. The point of the trial is to turn Mersault into a human being. Part 1 focuses on his life; Part II addresses the development of the character’s life philosophy.

Concerns or Objections to the Philosophy? What is freedom? How can we be free if so much of our lives, abilities, and environment is just given to us? What is happiness? How can we be happy in a world devoid of significance and meaning? How should we act? If our only moral rule is to act authentically, can’t we then do anything we want, no matter how evil or selfish?

Frankl and Man’s Search for Meaning We find meaning through A. creating or doing a work B. experiencing something or encountering someone C. the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering “Despair is suffering without meaning.” “Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked....each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.” –Frankl

A little humor….