Camus preferred to refer to himself as first and foremost a writer (un ecrivain) rather than philosopher because this title implied academic training, systematic thinking, and an established body of doctrine or ideas. Yet his preoccupation with life's most pressing questions and his resolve to face up to unpleasant truths placed him firmly within the philosophical tradition of Nietzsche and Kierkegaard.
The Absurd
Camus disagreed that religion could provide true meaning in life; he maintained that its existence could not justify lying, injustice and violence, while rebellion is at the core of human nature; suicide being an ultimate act of defiance against absurdity.
Camus saw the world as irrational and believed it impossible to comprehend its mysteries with reason alone. Therefore, he rejected any attempts at creating universal guidelines for morality or ethics and encouraged individuals to find their own path when faced with absurdity.
Camus' philosophy centered on the absurd, as epitomized by Sisyphus from mythology. Sisyphus symbolized life's frustrations through pushing a boulder uphill only for it to roll back down again, mirroring human attempts at finding answers for life's great questions, yet these could never be fully answered because our universe remains silent on them and thus we must learn to accept their meaninglessness.
Camus introduced the concept of revolt into this context. Revolt, according to Camus, can be defined as an act of defiance against our absurd world, like Sisyphus who refused to give up his eternal task but simply accepted his fate with humor and contempt. Camus extended this philosophy further by proposing that we rebel against any injustice, oppression or indignity we perceive daily in life.
Camus created his Theory of the Absurd in response to the existential issues confronting humanity at the end of the 20th Century. Contrary to what Sartre believed, Camus argued that human existence needn't necessarily mean an empty universe: in fact he suggested we could find meaning even amid absurdity and injustice by rebelling against injustice ourselves - thus placing himself closer to Aristotle than Sartre or other existentialists.
The Idea of Revolt
Camus's philosophy focuses on two opposing philosophies of life that clash; one seeks to find ultimate significance in everything in nature while acknowledging their insignificance; this creates an irresolvable tension that must be managed somehow.
As humanity struggled to understand a world in which calculated murder had become commonplace, Camus attempted to formulate a philosophy that could guide humanity as they attempted to make sense of an incomprehensible world. His final expression of these thoughts on this issue was The Rebel; although its themes overlap with those found in Nuptials and The Myth of Sisyphus, Camus developed them further by emphasizing revolt as the primary driver of human experience - while still criticizing Kierkegaard, Jaspers, Heidegger for their attempts at deducing meaning from absurdities while shifting his focus more towards phenomenological ontologies of revolts than anything similar in either Nuptials or The Myth of Sisyphus.
Camus's philosophy can best be described as political than philosophical; he asserts that an indefinable desire for transcendence or order leads only to despair and violence; this explains his rejection of religion and an afterlife in favor of encouraging individuals to pursue freedom and integrity amidst absurdity.
Camus' philosophy of revolt aims to counter oppression and slavery while decrying injustice in society. Individuals should accept their responsibility and independence by finding creative outlets to express themselves within an often hostile environment.
Camus describes a world in which individuals face various physical and economic restrictions that are difficult, or impossible, to overcome. If such limits cannot be avoided, does that mean we cannot retain our independence of thought as a tool against those seeking to limit freedom? If that is indeed the case then how can this be accomplished? This question of politics is explored with brilliant clarity by Camus.
The Problem of the Human Conscience
Camus explores absurdism through philosophy to examine humankind's desire to find meaning and purpose in life, yet no answers seem available; according to him, our world is intrinsically absurd, and people must accept its emptiness.
Camus' approach to meaning in life was complex and varied, drawing inspiration from several sources such as existentialism, Hegel, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche. Yet, his philosophy remains distinctive; he does not accept that external forces force people to find meaning; similarly he denounced any notion of transcendent afterlife as the basis for human morality.
He does not consider religion to be a source of meaning either, since its foundation rests upon an idea - God - that cannot be rationalized given all of the suffering in the world. According to Camus, believing in such an entity would only end in madness; any attempt at creation is an act of madness in itself.
Camus rejects the belief that history is an unintended, inevitable journey towards some ideal state, likening such beliefs to religious utopias, expressing his deep hostility towards those who see life as worth living for such unattainable goals.
Camus believes that rebellion is the only real source of meaning in life, though he admits it may involve lying and injustice at times. Still, Camus maintains that any rebel must keep fighting for freedom; they must adhere to his fundamental belief that rebellion in essence is a protest against death.
The Search for Meaning
Camus' philosophy revolves around the issue of meaning. According to him, man's search for an ultimate answer to this question is futile; because world and universe remain silent on this matter; man must learn to bear an irresolvable emptiness while longing for purposefulness - this tension defines absurdity as well.
Camus believed that answers to life's greatest questions cannot be found within religious or philosophical systems, but instead must come from within ourselves. He disproved of any transcendent afterlife or external authority which provides meaning or purpose; instead he encouraged people to search for individual meaning through self-discovery, growth and ethical pursuit.
Camus found himself drawn to Kierkegaard but opposed the existentialist philosophy espoused by Sartre and others, like Nietzsche in refusing to shy away from unpleasant truths and fighting received wisdom. Additionally, Camus' ideas and style recall those associated with French existentialists but with more secular principles.
Human beings possess an inalienable need for meaning in life; however, living in an unpredictable and often chaotic world makes this desire unfulfillable and results in an implacable tension that cannot be resolved easily.
Camus states that existentialists fail to grasp this fundamental paradox: They begin their philosophy by declaring the world lacks meaning before searching for it within it - an issue he addresses in his essay The Myth of Sisyphus.
Camus provides an avenue out of his philosophical dilemma in his work, suggesting that accepting reality as absurd doesn't lead to despair or metaphysical suicide but rebellion instead. Each individual should continue with life and work despite knowing the results won't have any real purpose; by accepting their absurdity they can gain some control and feel empowered once again.
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