My favorite philosophical author is Albert Camus.
There are four books that everyone should read by him: The Stranger, The Fall, The Plague, and The Myth of Sisyphus. I think one should read them in that order as well, although, if one wanted, they could read Sisyphus first; it's his only formal philosophical writing. It's really up to you to decide to read the philosophy that shapes his works first or last.
These three novels explore the spectrum of the Absurd hero. The Stranger's Mersault lives without any consideration of meaning or interpretation of his actions. Jean-Baptiste of The Fall considers the implications of his actions to an extreme fault. He analyzes himself into a dizzying spell of self-loathing and malaise. He abandoned an objectively successful life for one of self-imposed torture for his perceived sins. In these first two novels Camus presents is the extremes of his Absurd hero and each of their respective failures as humans. He invites you to consider where you fall on the spread.
Dr. Rieux of The Plague shows us the value of embracing absurdism to its ultimate end. In my view, Rieux is one to imitate. He considers his actions, their overall meaning, and overarching absence of meaning. Rieux creates a world for himself in which he flourishes and displays the virtues of living out one's ideals. He is a figure of hope and emulation.
Sisyphus explores the concepts Camus displays in these three novels and presents a full picture of the Absurd philosophy. Camus is often considered an existentialist, but I maintain that he was not precisely an existentialist. Rebellion is that which makes us free: rebellion against an unfeee world, rebellion against a lack of meaning, rebellion against a condemnation of life.
I would love to have a discussion on what you think of these books if you can find the time to read them. I was lucky to have read them when I was in my early 20s, for I believe they shaped my worldview for the better.
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| Albert Camus (file from ancient-origins.net) |
These three novels explore the spectrum of the Absurd hero. The Stranger's Mersault lives without any consideration of meaning or interpretation of his actions. Jean-Baptiste of The Fall considers the implications of his actions to an extreme fault. He analyzes himself into a dizzying spell of self-loathing and malaise. He abandoned an objectively successful life for one of self-imposed torture for his perceived sins. In these first two novels Camus presents is the extremes of his Absurd hero and each of their respective failures as humans. He invites you to consider where you fall on the spread.
Dr. Rieux of The Plague shows us the value of embracing absurdism to its ultimate end. In my view, Rieux is one to imitate. He considers his actions, their overall meaning, and overarching absence of meaning. Rieux creates a world for himself in which he flourishes and displays the virtues of living out one's ideals. He is a figure of hope and emulation.
Sisyphus explores the concepts Camus displays in these three novels and presents a full picture of the Absurd philosophy. Camus is often considered an existentialist, but I maintain that he was not precisely an existentialist. Rebellion is that which makes us free: rebellion against an unfeee world, rebellion against a lack of meaning, rebellion against a condemnation of life.
I would love to have a discussion on what you think of these books if you can find the time to read them. I was lucky to have read them when I was in my early 20s, for I believe they shaped my worldview for the better.
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