Individual experience and the absurd in human condition in Albert Camus

Abstract

The proposal of this article is to realize a study about some of the relevant aspects of Albert Camus’ philosophy and his approach about the absurd existence. The analysis takes in consideration the philosophical essay The myth of Sisyphus, works of commentators and points in common with Miguel de Unamuno’s philosophy as well. Camus, to study the absurd, goes with the principle of the suicide problem, and how it affects the individual as such. With the intrinsic lack of meaning of life, there is the questioning about knowing if life is worth living. The sensibility has a pivotal importance here, since it unveils everything man can learn on his life. The absurd shows itself in man’s failed attempt to comprehend the world, which has its own principles and laws, which are completely strange to the human knowledge. However, Camus doesn’t leave the individual in a scenario of complete fatalism, understanding man shall live his life, even without meaning, using his liberty of action with the purpose to absorb the maximum of possible experiences, being able that way to have his own share of happiness.