Introduction

Albert Camus was a French author who wrote philosophical essays and novels. In his novels and essays Camus explored the meaninglessness of existence through the lens of the Absurd, a philosophy that argues that life is absurd because it has no inherent meaning. The Absurd is a philosophical position that argues we cannot find what makes our lives meaningful, but can instead make our own meanings with our actions.

Who is Albert Camus?

Albert Camus was a French philosopher, author and journalist. He was born in Algeria to a poor family; his father died when Camus was just an infant. His mother worked as a housekeeper for another family, leaving him to be raised by his grandparents.

Camus was educated in France, where he became a journalist and editor of the newspaper Combat during World War II (1939-1945). After the war ended he wrote several plays before publishing The Stranger in 1942–a novel that would become one of his most famous works with its themes of alienation and absurdityism .

see also: The Purpose of Albert Camus Philosophy

Albert Camus’ Early Life

Albert Camus was born in Algeria on November 7, 1913. His parents were teachers and his family was poor. As a child, he was sickly and frail; however, he was also a good student who excelled at literature and philosophy. He studied these subjects at the University of Algiers where he met Jean-Paul Sartre (another famous existentialist). After graduating from college, Camus lived in Paris for several years before returning home to Algeria where he wrote about existentialism for various newspapers and magazines throughout Europe until World War II began in 1939.

Absurdism in Albert Camus’ Metaphysics

In his 1942 essay “The Myth of Sisyphus,” Camus defines the absurd as:

• The lack of any relationship between one’s life and the universe as a whole, which leads to an indifference to all forms of transcendence or spirituality.
• A metaphysical condition that can be described as follows: “The Absurd is born from this confrontation between the human need and the unreasonable silence of the world.”

The Absurdist movement in philosophy was founded by Camus and has since developed into a wide range of perspectives on how we should live our lives given our existence within a meaningless universe. This movement has had significant influence on literature and art as well as other disciplines such as psychology, sociology, theology and history (to name just a few).

Albert Camus and the Philosophy of the Absurd

In the philosophy of the absurd, life is a meaningless and absurd endeavor without any ultimate purpose or meaning. This is because we are mortal beings who must eventually die, leaving behind an existence that has no further value or importance beyond itself. In addition to this fact about our mortality, Camus also believed that all humans share another common experience: being trapped inside their own bodies and minds–which means that we cannot escape our own consciousnesses or see beyond what they allow us to perceive (or think).

Camus’ view was influenced by his upbringing in Algeria during World War II; he saw firsthand how easily people could lose themselves in meaningless activities while ignoring others’ suffering around them–and how difficult it was for anyone who tried to help those less fortunate than themselves. He also witnessed firsthand how quickly one’s own life could be taken away from them without warning; this made him wonder why anyone would bother living if there wasn’t anything waiting for them after death except oblivion?

The Myth of Sisyphus – The Absurd Existence and the Struggle for Meaning

Camus’ view of the world was one of suffering, death and meaninglessness. It’s easy to see why he came to this conclusion when you consider his personal experiences with loss and tragedy (the deaths of both his father and brother), but it’s also worth noting that Camus’ philosophy had been shaped by philosophers who were similarly pessimistic in their outlooks on life. Among these were Schopenhauer, Nietzsche and Kierkegaard–all whom believed that human existence was essentially meaningless without God or some higher power providing an ultimate purpose for existence beyond our own mortality

The Stranger – The Absurd Man, Fate and Death

The story of The Stranger is about Meursault, an absurd man who faces the death of his mother. In the beginning, Meursault does not seem to care much about his mother’s health and just goes about his daily routine. When she dies, however, he is arrested for murder because he shows no emotion at all at her funeral or during her burial service (Camus 6). It seems like this would be something hard for anyone to deal with but Meursault reacts in a very indifferent way; he doesn’t cry or get angry at all when confronted by this situation

There is no inherent meaning to life, but we can make our own.

Camus suggests that, although life is meaningless in the sense that there is no inherent purpose to our existence and we are subject to death, we can create meaning for ourselves. He argues that this is necessary because it allows us to live happily and authentically. However, Camus also acknowledges that some people may not want or be able to create their own meaning–and those people will likely never find happiness in their lives.

Meaningfulness in Absurdism: A Summary

Absurdism states that life is meaningless because there is no inherent purpose behind it; however, individuals can choose how they want their lives to be meaningful by creating self-made meanings out of personal experiences (or lack thereof).

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to understand that there is no inherent meaning to life. However, we can find meaning in our own lives and make our own sense of the world. “So long as you live on this earth and for some time after,” Camus explains, “it will be your duty not merely to survive but also to find a reason for living.”