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Single Idea 9243
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 2. Nihilism
]
Full Idea
What a man believes to be true must determine his action. Belief in the absurdity of existence must then dictate his conduct.
Gist of Idea
If we believe existence is absurd, this should dictate our conduct
Source
Albert Camus (The Myth of Sisyphus [1942], 'Abs and Suic')
Book Ref
Camus,Albert: 'The Myth of Sisyphus', ed/tr. O'Brien,Justin [Penguin 1975], p.14
A Reaction
It is intriguing to speculate what the appropriate conduct is. Presumably it is wild existential gestures, like sticking a knife through your hand. Suicide will be an obvious temptation. But bourgeois life might be equally appropriate.
The
14 ideas
from Albert Camus
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9244
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Logic is easy, but what about logic to the point of death?
[Camus]
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9243
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If we believe existence is absurd, this should dictate our conduct
[Camus]
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9242
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Essential problems either risk death, or intensify the passion of life
[Camus]
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9248
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It is essential to die unreconciled and not of one's own free will
[Camus]
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9249
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Whether we are free is uninteresting; we can only experience our freedom
[Camus]
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9247
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Life will be lived better if it has no meaning
[Camus]
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9250
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Discussing ethics is pointless; moral people behave badly, and integrity doesn't need rules
[Camus]
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9251
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One can be virtuous through a whim
[Camus]
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9253
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The human heart has a tiresome tendency to label as fate only what crushes it
[Camus]
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9252
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The more one loves the stronger the absurd grows
[Camus]
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6707
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Suicide - whether life is worth living - is the one serious philosophical problem
[Camus]
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6708
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Happiness and the absurd go together, each leading to the other
[Camus]
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9245
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To an absurd mind reason is useless, and there is nothing beyond reason
[Camus]
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9246
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Danger and integrity are not in the leap of faith, but in remaining poised just before the leap
[Camus]
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