Single Idea 6707

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 3. Philosophy Defined]

Full Idea

There is but one truly serious philosophical problem and that is suicide. Judgine whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy.

Gist of Idea

Suicide - whether life is worth living - is the one serious philosophical problem

Source

Albert Camus (The Myth of Sisyphus [1942], p.11)

Book Reference

Camus,Albert: 'The Myth of Sisyphus', ed/tr. O'Brien,Justin [Penguin 1975], p.11


A Reaction

What a wonderful thesis for a book. In Idea 2682 there is the possibility of life being worth living, but not worth a huge amount of effort. It is better to call Camus' question the first question, rather than the only question.

Related Idea

Idea 2682 Aristotle thinks human life is not important enough to spend a whole life on it [Nagel on Aristotle]