Transcript Albert Camus - Cloudfront.net

Albert Camus
Three Philosophical Movements
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“Take out your “Albert Camus” notes.
Three Philosophical Movements
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“Nature”
What do your friends say is your “nature?”
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“Mr. Kim’s has a wacky and humorous nature.”
“Students say Mr. Wydra has a caring nature.”
“Students say Mr. McAdams has a sensitive nature.”
“Fans say Allen Iverson has an arrogant nature.”
– You have 1 minute. What is your “nature” according to
friends. Write on the lines, beside the slide.
Three Philosophical Movements
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Existentialism: A belief that neither human beings
nor the universe has any essential
nature. Human beings construct their natures
through their choices. We are who we are by our
CHOICES.
– What do you think? Do you believe your “nature” is a
choice? Or do you have no control over your “nature?”
For example: I’m just angry by nature. I get pissed
easily. Is this your nature, or do you have a choice?
2 minutes
Three Philosophical Movements
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Do you believe that “things happen for a reason?”
Who creates these “reasons?” You, or the
universe, or God?
Example: A man finds a hundred dollar bill on the
street. A bus blows a tire and swerves and kills
the man. The man’s wife is looking for “reasons”
this happened. Who supplies the “reason?”
– “This happened for a reason,” the wife said. “He’s just
in a better place now.”
Camus’ Absurdism
Define “absurd.”
Provide examples of items or ideas that are absurd.
Camus’ Absurdism
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“Everything happens for a reason.”
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Who determines meaning for us in this statement? Us? Or
Nature (The Universe)? Or God?
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Absurdism says we are childish in thinking that nature
gives us answers. Nature doesn’t care. We have to create
meaning, which means choosing reasons why bad and
good events happen. (Show penguin).
http://viooz.co/movies/5496-encounters-at-the-end-of-theworld-2007.html
(Google Chrome)
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Three Philosophical Movements
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Absurdism: A belief that our need for meaning is
greater than the ability of the universe to be
meaningful, making all philosophical positions
absurd.
– For instance, the man’s wife, who is sad, wants an
“answer” for his bizarre death. Absurdism says the
universe will NOT give her answers. She has to figure
it out.
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Make a comment or question on this PPT. I will
call on you.
Three Philosophical Movements


Existentialism: A belief that neither human beings
nor the universe has any essential
nature (meaning). Human beings construct their
natures (meaning) through their choices.
Absurdism: A belief that our need for meaning is
greater than the ability of the universe to be
meaningful, making all philosophical positions
absurd.
Camus’ Existential Moralism
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Human beings inhabit a moral universe in which
there are no absolute guidelines. There are “legal”
guidelines and “social” guidelines, but nothing can
really “stop” us from action.
Nonetheless, we have an ethical sense that we try
to live up to—most of us want to be “good
people,” though it is difficult to pin down exactly
what this means. (BEING A GOOD PERSON
ALSO MEANS DEFINING EXACTLY WHAT
THAT MEANS)
Camus’ Existential Moralism
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Define what being a good person means. What do
you have to believe, and what type of actions?
– Example: “I believe that in order to be a good person, I
have to help others who are less fortunate than me.”
– “I believe in order to be a good person, I have to feed
my dog.”
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You have 2 minutes to work with a partner.
Camus’ Existential Moralism
Life constantly presents us with moral
choices without giving us the right answers
 The various ways that we try to define a
moral code and live by it constitute our
moral being.
 We define ourselves as moral beings by the
choices that we make within the ethical
system that we construct.
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Camus’ Absurdism
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There is no natural meaning in the world.
There is no “right” or “wrong” answer to
moral choices. It is only when we provide
the meaning. Right or wrong are
determined by humans, not by a natural
“being.”
Camus’ Absurdism
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The belief that our desire for meaning is greater than the
capacity of the universe to produce meaning.
Example: A traumatized child brings a blankie along for
comfort and support. One day, a burglar breaks into the
house, and the child is pissed when the blankie does not
protect him. The child’s belief in the blankie, the desire
for meaning he wants for it, is greater than the ability of
the universe to provide meaning. It is the child that puts it
in.
Camus’ Absurdism
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Once we get over the fact that nature doesn’t give a rat’s
a*$ about us, once we understand how our need for nature
to provide meaning is “absurd,” we can move on.
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Watch “Tsunami Engulfs a man”
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We can now say that it is US, WE provide meaning
through our values and moral codes. This is personal
freedom. This is the role absurdism plays in making us
closer.
Choice
We need to choose our moral guidelines.
These are called “values.” When we choose
our values, we have ultimate freedom,
because our choices are guided not by
absurd, automatic impulses, but by
deliberate choice at the highest level.
Choice
Below are a set of values. Choose from most
important to least important.
Courage, love, freedom, intimacy, health, financial
security, passion, friendship, comfort, peace,
creativity, popularity.
Example:
1) Love
2) Health
3) freedom
4) Courage
5) Passion
Choice
Was it determined by the ranked values? Or did
you base your decision on something random?
Example: I chose to hang out with my friends
more instead of my girlfriend. Do you see how
“freedom” and “Love” can sometimes conflict?
This is why life is so damn HARD. Your top
values might conflict!
Example:
1) Love
2) Health
3) freedom
4) Courage
5) Passion
Choice
What was the most difficult choice you had to make
in the past year?
Was it determined by the ranked values? Or did
you base your decision on something random?
Example: I chose to hang out with my friends
more instead of my girlfriend.
Example:
1) Love
2) Health
3) freedom
4) Courage
5) Passion
Meursault’s Ironic Situation
Only when he is in prison, when he is
sentenced to death, does he understand the
meaningful freedom he has. Like us. It is
only when we understand the certainty of
our death do we embrace how much we are
alive. We see this post 9-11 and in
platitudinous phrases like “Yolo.”
Meursault’s Choice
Meursault’s choice of whether to kill the
Arab or to walk away represents the kinds of
moral choices that we all make: there are no
solid guidelines for him to use, but there are
genuine moral consequences to whatever he
decides.