The document discusses Albert Camus' philosophy of the absurd and the character Meursault from his novel The Stranger. Camus believes that living in an irrational universe leads to a feeling of absurdity. This can result in revolt, freedom, and passion according to Camus. Meursault is presented as a "stranger" who is indifferent to social conventions but lives life with sincere honesty. He comes to be filled with passion and bitterness by the end of the story.

1. Albert CamusAlbert Camus
The AbsurdThe Absurd

2. • Nonsense of LifeNonsense of Life
A.A. Fundamental question of philosophy –Fundamental question of philosophy – IsIs
life worth living?life worth living?
1. Living is not easy.1. Living is not easy.
2. Man is a creature of habit.2. Man is a creature of habit.
3. Committing suicide happens when man3. Committing suicide happens when man
decides that. . .decides that. . .
a. Daily habits are ridiculous.a. Daily habits are ridiculous.
b. There is no profound reason to live.b. There is no profound reason to live.
c. Daily agitation is insane.c. Daily agitation is insane.
d. Suffering is useless.d. Suffering is useless.

3. B.B. The Feeling of AbsurdityThe Feeling of Absurdity
1. Comes from the nausea of mechanical daily1. Comes from the nausea of mechanical daily
existenceexistence
a. Same routine, day after daya. Same routine, day after day
b. Lassitude leads to the question, Why?b. Lassitude leads to the question, Why?
c. In a world without sparkle, man is ac. In a world without sparkle, man is a ““strangerstranger””..
2. Is a result of the divorce between man and his life2. Is a result of the divorce between man and his life..
3. Is revealed by the certainty of death.3. Is revealed by the certainty of death.
4. Comes from believing that each day is subject4. Comes from believing that each day is subject
to tomorrow. Therefore, time is an enemy.to tomorrow. Therefore, time is an enemy.
5. Comes when intelligence recognizes that it5. Comes when intelligence recognizes that it
cannot understand the world.cannot understand the world.
The world is irrational.The world is irrational.

4. C. Definition of the absurdC. Definition of the absurd
1. The absurd is neither in the world , nor1. The absurd is neither in the world , nor
in man, but in their common presence. Itin man, but in their common presence. It
is born of their apparent contradiction.is born of their apparent contradiction.

5. • The Absurd ManThe Absurd Man
A.A. Camus refuses to condone acts ofCamus refuses to condone acts of
avoidance like suicide which suppressavoidance like suicide which suppress
manman’’s conscience and doctrines.s conscience and doctrines.
B.B. Camus decides to live only with thatCamus decides to live only with that
which is known.which is known.

6. C.C. Camas assigns three consequences to theCamas assigns three consequences to the
absurd.absurd.
1. Revolt1. Revolt
a. A perpetual confrontation between mana. A perpetual confrontation between man
and his own obscurity.and his own obscurity.
b. It is not an aspiration, but rather, it is theb. It is not an aspiration, but rather, it is the
absence of hope.absence of hope.
c. It gives man a sense of nobility.c. It gives man a sense of nobility.
d. It is the certainty of a crushing fate.d. It is the certainty of a crushing fate.

7. 2. Freedom2. Freedom
a. The absurd man sets aside thea. The absurd man sets aside the
problem of personal liberty within,problem of personal liberty within,
because it relates to the belief inbecause it relates to the belief in
God.God.
b. The absurd allows man to see thingsb. The absurd allows man to see things
from a new perspective.from a new perspective.
((Man knows that his condition is without hope)Man knows that his condition is without hope)

8. 3. Passion3. Passion
a. Living in an absurd universe consistsa. Living in an absurd universe consists
of multiplying intelligible experiencesof multiplying intelligible experiences
with passion.with passion.
b. Camus insists on the quantity ratherb. Camus insists on the quantity rather
than the quality.than the quality.
c. Man must be ready to pay for hisc. Man must be ready to pay for his
actions.actions.
d. Man is his one and only end.d. Man is his one and only end.

9. • The StrangerThe Stranger
According to Germaine BrAccording to Germaine Bréée Camus wase Camus was
unable to accept traditional religiousunable to accept traditional religious
interpretations of maninterpretations of man’’s universals universal
condemnation. Life itself is the cause ofcondemnation. Life itself is the cause of
this tragic problem.this tragic problem.
Meursault tells the story himself in the firstMeursault tells the story himself in the first
person but objectively with a kind of flat,person but objectively with a kind of flat,
impersonal precision as if he is aimpersonal precision as if he is a
““strangerstranger”” to the events.to the events.

10. • What do you think of Meursault?What do you think of Meursault?
- Unresponsive.- Unresponsive.
- Puzzling.- Puzzling.
- Some what repellent.- Some what repellent.
As we advance in the story, he appears toAs we advance in the story, he appears to
be sincere and honest. He says what hebe sincere and honest. He says what he
understands and feels. He does not wishunderstands and feels. He does not wish
to hurt others. It is only by his lack ofto hurt others. It is only by his lack of
sensitivity to the social conventions thatsensitivity to the social conventions that
Camus makes us realize MeursaultCamus makes us realize Meursault’’ss
inability to feel shame and his indifferenceinability to feel shame and his indifference
to social conformity.to social conformity.

11. • Is Meursault a rebel?Is Meursault a rebel?
He is not a man who looks at himself asHe is not a man who looks at himself as
different from other men.different from other men.
Although, he does not know what interestsAlthough, he does not know what interests
him, he knows what does not interest him.him, he knows what does not interest him.
• Is Meursault proud, arrogant, or dejected?Is Meursault proud, arrogant, or dejected?
He enjoys the simple pleasure of everydayHe enjoys the simple pleasure of everyday
life.life.
Underneath his apparent indifference, heUnderneath his apparent indifference, he
slowly changes until he is filled withslowly changes until he is filled with
passion and bitterness.passion and bitterness.

12. • What is the unique value of life?What is the unique value of life?
MeursaultMeursault’’s life must be lived with as life must be lived with a
passionate enjoyment to the fullest.passionate enjoyment to the fullest.