For Camus, It Was Always Personal
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For Camus, It Was Always Personal
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Re: For Camus, It Was Always Personal
#2> Wishing to keep the change he received after going to the store, Camus’s adolescent alter ego tells his grandmother that it had fallen into the latrine pit.
Words fail me.
Re: For Camus, It Was Always Personal
#3“ This maternal silence, which soon came to assume a metaphysical presence, became the center of his work. ”
I have loved delving deep into Camus during this dark period of modern human society. Existentialism has become such an intriguing set of beliefs that I stumbled upon in reading “Ecclesiastes” and that I will probably continue to dive deeper into all of my life.
Has anyone read Soren Kirkegaard? He’s next on the list.
Re: For Camus, It Was Always Personal
#4> Don’t bother Googling for a coffee mug embellished with this vow. I tried and came up empty.
This is an easily solvable problem, at least for however long this link lives.
https://www.zazzle.com/pd/spp/pt-zazzle_mug?addon=none&color...
More relevant, Camus has recently re-entered into pop culture thanks to Rick and Morty, with plenty of articles connecting the two (e.g. https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/rick-and-morty-...).
Re: For Camus, It Was Always Personal
#5As a meticulous observer, Camus may provide interesting insights into a how a mother may providing relational for her beloved son.
Re: For Camus, It Was Always Personal
#6“ This maternal silence, which soon came to assume a metaphysical presence, became the center of his work. ” I have loved delving deep into Camus during this dark period of modern human society. Existentialism has become such an intriguing set of beliefs that I stumbled upon in reading “Ecclesiastes” and that I will probably continue to dive deeper into all of my life. Has anyone read Soren Kirkegaard? He’s next on t…
I highly recommend Either/Or. At the very least sample a bit of each section (the Either and Or respectively).
It’s a witty and oftentimes paradoxical ride, and, because of Kierkegaard’s use of pseudonyms, you’ll be hard pressed to really put your finger on what he believes. But that’s all part of the fun!
“Marry, and you will regret it; don’t marry, you will also regret it; marry or don’t marry, you will regret it either way. Laugh at the world’s foolishness, you will regret it; weep over it, you will regret that too; laugh at the world’s foolishness or weep over it, you will regret both. Believe a woman, you will regret it; believe her not, you will also regret it… Hang yourself, you will regret it; do not hang yourself, and you will regret that too; hang yourself or don’t hang yourself, you’ll regret it either way; whether you hang yourself or do not hang yourself, you will regret both. This, gentlemen, is the essence of all philosophy.“ — Kierkegaard, “Either/Or.”
Forewarning: in my opinion, Kierkegaard falls into that class of writers whose readers are too frequently obsessed with their pessimism, so much so that they miss the greater point. Much like Nietzsche or even Edward Gibbon, Kierkegaard’s central theses are much grander than trite pessimism and nihilism. I hope you see that and enjoy his works.
Re: For Camus, It Was Always Personal
#7> All there is, he concludes, are “stones, flesh, stars, and those truths the hand can touch.”
A tempting philosophy for such a time, but too reliant on the senses. Change is all there is. Accept that and never be disappointed.
Re: For Camus, It Was Always Personal
#8“ This maternal silence, which soon came to assume a metaphysical presence, became the center of his work. ” I have loved delving deep into Camus during this dark period of modern human society. Existentialism has become such an intriguing set of beliefs that I stumbled upon in reading “Ecclesiastes” and that I will probably continue to dive deeper into all of my life. Has anyone read Soren Kirkegaard? He’s next on t…
I highly recommend Either/Or. At the very least sample a bit of each section (the Either and Or respectively). It’s a witty and oftentimes paradoxical ride, and, because of Kierkegaard’s use of pseudonyms, you’ll be hard pressed to really put your finger on what he believes. But that’s all part of the fun! “Marry, and you will regret it; don’t marry, you will also regret it; marry or don’t marry, you will regret it e…
What about responsibility? If every way is arbitrary and regretful and therefore meaningless, would responsibility be a meaningful guide?
I'm getting divorced, and, if it were just the old lady and me, either choice leads to regret, which I can accept. But our children are not at fault, so, regardless of whether I regret the choice, I'm bound by responsibility to be there for them regardless of regret.
Re: For Camus, It Was Always Personal
#9“ This maternal silence, which soon came to assume a metaphysical presence, became the center of his work. ” I have loved delving deep into Camus during this dark period of modern human society. Existentialism has become such an intriguing set of beliefs that I stumbled upon in reading “Ecclesiastes” and that I will probably continue to dive deeper into all of my life. Has anyone read Soren Kirkegaard? He’s next on t…
I used to teach Existentialism before leaving academia. As the other comment mentions Kierkegaard's "Either/Or" is worth a read, I also recommend "Fear and Trembling."
The other two writers associated with this term I think are must reads are Dostoevsky and Nietzsche. The former's Notes From Underground is one of my favorite pieces of literature. I highly recommend reading it alongside his "Winter Notes on Summer Impressions," a travel diary he wrote that heavily inspired his later work. In it, he vividly describes the kind of anxieties he has with modernity that influences his work.
And for those wanting a higher level overview of Existentialism and the myriad (seemingly incompatible) writers associated with the term, I highly recommend Kevin Aho's "Existentialism: an Introduction." I've read most of the popular overviews and this one is hands down the best.
Re: For Camus, It Was Always Personal
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
I highly recommend Either/Or. At the very least sample a bit of each section (the Either and Or respectively). It’s a witty and oftentimes paradoxical ride, and, because of Kierkegaard’s use of pseudonyms, you’ll be hard pressed to really put your finger on what he believes. But that’s all part of the fun! “Marry, and you will regret it; don’t marry, you will also regret it; marry or don’t marry, you will regret it e…
What about responsibility? If every way is arbitrary and regretful and therefore meaningless, would responsibility be a meaningful guide? I'm getting divorced, and, if it were just the old lady and me, either choice leads to regret, which I can accept. But our children are not at fault, so, regardless of whether I regret the choice, I'm bound by responsibility to be there for them regardless of regret.
Nihilism absolves of that weight. Likewise, pride of self goes with it. Good or bad...and what ought to be only angels know.