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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Absurdism and how to cope with the consequences. The perpetual limbo between taking the leap and ending one's life. Brain been fried. Madly adore his way of explaining, of bridging one thought to another.
"Un om este si mai om mai curand prin ceea ce trece sub tacere decat prin ceea ce se spune. Voi trece multe sub tacere."
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
challenging
inspiring
Something I will have to read periodically throughout my life
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Albert Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus is a dense, thought-provoking work of absurdist philosophy. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, especially Camus at his best in his critique of “philosophical suicide,” where people turn to religion or ideology to escape absurdity rather than facing it head-on. His writing is accessible yet packed with depth. Reading Camus felt very rewarding, and this is a great starting point for anyone interested in learning about absurdism or even existentialism.
I want to point out early that I understand Camus probably never intended his philosophy to be something to follow but rather a tool for confronting an absurd world. However, I disagree with his claim that meaning is an illusion—at least when it comes to human experience.
Early in the essay, Camus makes an important distinction: man alone is not absurd; absurdity only emerges in the relationship between man and the world. This is a crucial point because it suggests that absurdity is a product of human consciousness colliding with an indifferent universe. Camus argues that because the world does not provide objective meaning, any meaning humans create is merely a fabrication, a way to cope with the absurd. However, this argument contains a contradiction.
If absurdity is only the result of the conflict between human nature and an indifferent world, then meaning itself cannot be dismissed as absurd without also dismissing human nature. The very fact that humans are meaning-seeking beings suggests that meaning is not just an illusion but an essential part of the human experience. Neuroscience and psychology today confirm that meaning is not just a preference but a fundamental aspect of human nature. It is necessary for psychological stability. If meaning is a human necessity, then dismissing it as an illusion seems like an oversimplification—especially when the answer provided is to rebel against the absurdity of the world, as this is just another search for meaning masked as defiance due to the inherent value of life.
Camus’ critique of invented meaning (whether religious or ideological) is valid—people do construct narratives to provide purpose in a chaotic world. But he takes this a step further by implying that all meaning, even the kind we generate for ourselves, is absurd. This is where I disagree. Meaning does not have to be externally imposed to be real. It exists because we experience it, and it plays a crucial role in shaping human life. The fact that meaning is self-imposed does not negate its value—if anything, it reinforces that meaning is something deeply human.
I believe Camus provides an important stepping stone for living in an absurd world. However, I think others, like Viktor Frankl, offer an interesting counterpoint. Frankl, like Camus, acknowledges the absurd, but he does not see meaning as a futile illusion. He argues that humans must create their own meaning in response to suffering and absurdity—not as an escape, but as an affirmation of life. I’ve been wanting to read Frankl’s book, but I thought it would be important to read Camus’ essay first.
And because I always have to include anime: Frankl is Gurren Lagann to Camus’ Evangelion.
Ultimately, I found The Myth of Sisyphus to be a dense yet rewarding read. Camus presents a strong critique of blind faith in external meaning, and his discussion of absurdity is sharp. This book is important—not because it offers the final word on the absurd, but because it forces us to question what makes life worth living.
I’m glad I finally read it, because the quote at the end has been an inspiration to me for a long time:
“I leave Sisyphus at the foot of the mountain! One always finds one’s burden again. But Sisyphus teaches the higher fidelity that negates the gods and raises rocks. He too concludes that all is well. This universe henceforth without a master seems to him neither sterile nor futile. Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of that night-filled mountain, in itself forms a world. The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”
I want to point out early that I understand Camus probably never intended his philosophy to be something to follow but rather a tool for confronting an absurd world. However, I disagree with his claim that meaning is an illusion—at least when it comes to human experience.
Early in the essay, Camus makes an important distinction: man alone is not absurd; absurdity only emerges in the relationship between man and the world. This is a crucial point because it suggests that absurdity is a product of human consciousness colliding with an indifferent universe. Camus argues that because the world does not provide objective meaning, any meaning humans create is merely a fabrication, a way to cope with the absurd. However, this argument contains a contradiction.
If absurdity is only the result of the conflict between human nature and an indifferent world, then meaning itself cannot be dismissed as absurd without also dismissing human nature. The very fact that humans are meaning-seeking beings suggests that meaning is not just an illusion but an essential part of the human experience. Neuroscience and psychology today confirm that meaning is not just a preference but a fundamental aspect of human nature. It is necessary for psychological stability. If meaning is a human necessity, then dismissing it as an illusion seems like an oversimplification—especially when the answer provided is to rebel against the absurdity of the world, as this is just another search for meaning masked as defiance due to the inherent value of life.
Camus’ critique of invented meaning (whether religious or ideological) is valid—people do construct narratives to provide purpose in a chaotic world. But he takes this a step further by implying that all meaning, even the kind we generate for ourselves, is absurd. This is where I disagree. Meaning does not have to be externally imposed to be real. It exists because we experience it, and it plays a crucial role in shaping human life. The fact that meaning is self-imposed does not negate its value—if anything, it reinforces that meaning is something deeply human.
I believe Camus provides an important stepping stone for living in an absurd world. However, I think others, like Viktor Frankl, offer an interesting counterpoint. Frankl, like Camus, acknowledges the absurd, but he does not see meaning as a futile illusion. He argues that humans must create their own meaning in response to suffering and absurdity—not as an escape, but as an affirmation of life. I’ve been wanting to read Frankl’s book, but I thought it would be important to read Camus’ essay first.
And because I always have to include anime: Frankl is Gurren Lagann to Camus’ Evangelion.
Ultimately, I found The Myth of Sisyphus to be a dense yet rewarding read. Camus presents a strong critique of blind faith in external meaning, and his discussion of absurdity is sharp. This book is important—not because it offers the final word on the absurd, but because it forces us to question what makes life worth living.
I’m glad I finally read it, because the quote at the end has been an inspiration to me for a long time:
“I leave Sisyphus at the foot of the mountain! One always finds one’s burden again. But Sisyphus teaches the higher fidelity that negates the gods and raises rocks. He too concludes that all is well. This universe henceforth without a master seems to him neither sterile nor futile. Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of that night-filled mountain, in itself forms a world. The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
THE QUOTESSSS are sometimes mind blowing ;) i loved them.
“There is scarcely any passion without struggle.”
“Any thought that abandons unity glorifies diversity. And diversity is the home of art.”
“In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion.”
this work made me overthink, in a good way.
“There is scarcely any passion without struggle.”
“Any thought that abandons unity glorifies diversity. And diversity is the home of art.”
“In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion.”
this work made me overthink, in a good way.
I've picked up this book several times and put it back down out of boredom.
This most recent time, however, something struck a chord. His description of the absurd condition felt like he was taking the words out of my mouth. His proposal for how to deal with this predicament - rejecting suicide, but also hope - was one I've come to accept on my own before ever reading this. So I found it very compelling to follow his thoughts to see what conclusions came from this. I say "conclusions" loosely, because this isn't written like a philosophical argument meant to persuade you to his view. It's more like a descriptive poem, where you appreciate if it resonates with you, and find it boring if it doesn't.
Here's my hypothesis about how this book was written. Camus, over the course of his life, went through several existential crises and eventually noticed a pattern. After dwelling on the meaninglessness of everything for a while, you eventually find some resolution -- something to put Faith in. Gradually, you lose faith in this thing and end up back in another crisis. The process repeats, and you try to find some new resolution. But, having gone through this before, you begin to scrutinize your next resolution more critically. After going through this enough times, you eventually reach a point where it seems doubtful any resolution to your existential dread will last, and look for a 3rd path: embracing the absurd.
I have to wonder if Camus would like Buddhism. His philosophy seems similar, just with more emphasis on that conditions that make Buddhism compelling. Once you accept that everything is impermanent, it only makes sense that you should make the most of what you have. "One must imagine Sisyphus happy".
This most recent time, however, something struck a chord. His description of the absurd condition felt like he was taking the words out of my mouth. His proposal for how to deal with this predicament - rejecting suicide, but also hope - was one I've come to accept on my own before ever reading this. So I found it very compelling to follow his thoughts to see what conclusions came from this. I say "conclusions" loosely, because this isn't written like a philosophical argument meant to persuade you to his view. It's more like a descriptive poem, where you appreciate if it resonates with you, and find it boring if it doesn't.
Here's my hypothesis about how this book was written. Camus, over the course of his life, went through several existential crises and eventually noticed a pattern. After dwelling on the meaninglessness of everything for a while, you eventually find some resolution -- something to put Faith in. Gradually, you lose faith in this thing and end up back in another crisis. The process repeats, and you try to find some new resolution. But, having gone through this before, you begin to scrutinize your next resolution more critically. After going through this enough times, you eventually reach a point where it seems doubtful any resolution to your existential dread will last, and look for a 3rd path: embracing the absurd.
I have to wonder if Camus would like Buddhism. His philosophy seems similar, just with more emphasis on that conditions that make Buddhism compelling. Once you accept that everything is impermanent, it only makes sense that you should make the most of what you have. "One must imagine Sisyphus happy".