CAMUS

Question 1

suicide

Answer 1

the only serious problem, since it questions if we should live at all

it’s a fact the heat can feel…but how can we “feel” facts?
- a truth that we learn thru experience rather than logic

Question 2

absurd

Answer 2

relies on the relationship b/w 2 things: our desire for clarity/meaning in the world, and the unreasonable SILENCE of the world

the confrontation for our need for meaning/clarity, and the world’s inability to give that

Question 3

suicide is prepared in the silence of the heart

Answer 3

she is ignorant of the process leading to suicide until the breaking point

Question 4

beginning to think is beginning to be undermined

Answer 4

when you begin to think about/examine your life, you start falling apart…no longer comforted by your routine

begin to ask “why” and the process egins

Question 5

bad reasons and familiarity

Answer 5

we want the comfort of reason in the world, even if we’re wrong…reason/rationality makes the world more familiar

Question 6

why

Answer 6

when you realize you’re following the same rhythm of life every day/week, you ask why

feel weariness and amazement…what am i doing? why?

you can either return to your regular routine, or awaken and see the absurdity of existence…commit suicide

Question 7

absurd to reject the flesh

Answer 7

it’s absurd to reject your physical form…you still desire to live, even tho you want to escape the meaninglessness of tomorrow

we cannot escape time, since we belong to it

Question 8

primitive hostility

Answer 8

the world’s indifference to us, and its inability to offer us meaning/purpose
- the world is empty and unfamiliar when we don’t project our explanations/meanings onto it

we cannot use this hostility, since we only understand the world thru the attributions and explanations we give it
- even if we give structure and routines, the world is still ultimately meaningless

Question 9

revolt

Answer 9

a third option…a way of transcending the world’s indifference to humankind

rather than focusing on finding meaning in the world, realize it’s better when there’s no meaning

live IN SPITE of the world’s indifference, and create value thru own experience and consciousness
- revolt gives life worth….not meaning or faith

Question 10

the leap of faith

Answer 10

spiritual escape from the absurd thru religion, faith
- i.e. believing that god gives meaning w/o proof, or thinking the universe has a purpose

live life by pretending or believing it has meaning

Question 11

suicide vs the leap of faith

Answer 11

suicide is an extreme form of acceptance that life has no meaning…however, revolt gives life its value
- instead of just surrendering

leap of faith is just as much an escape as suicide since it ignores the meaninglessness of the world
- surrendering instead of confronting the world as it is

Question 12

lucidity

Answer 12

clearly and consciously seeing the world and our condition

having continual awareness of our situation and the absurd…live life WITHOUT ILLUSIONS and choose to live anyways

Question 13

sisyphus as the absurd hero

Answer 13

condemned to roll rock up hill for all eternity
- consciousness makes it tragic bcs he knows the task is meaningless and futile

he accepts his fate and takes ownership of it…continues to roll the rock and REVOLTS by living in spite of absurdity

Question 14

role of hope

Answer 14

hope would make sisyphus look for a future beyond the rock and ruin his revolt

by having a lack of hope, he can revolt

the descent/roll down can be experienced with either sorrow or JOY…his attitude is freedom

Question 15

his thing

Answer 15

the rock is sisyphus’ “thing”

he has made it his own thru revolt…will perform the task despite it being meaningless

Question 16

steps towards suicide

Answer 16

1. realize repetitive nature of life
2. ask why
3. old meaning collapses
4. experience primitive hostility of the world
5. feel absurd
6. either return to routine or kill self
7. third option: revolt