Camus Stranger Intro Notes

  Existentiali sm, Albert Camus, and Albert Camus (1913 -

  Albert Camus 

  Born in Algeria in 1913

  

  Settled in Paris and studied philosophy and literature

  

  One of the key figures of the existentialist movement of the 1950s

  

  Controversial writer

  

  Writings affected by the time period: the horrors

  The Stranger 

  The Stranger (1942) Setting: Algiers,

  Algeria (Northwest coast of Africa)

  

  Is characterized by its simple plot, effectiveness of dialogue, dramatic effects, extremes of racism, political corruption, exploitation of women, and above all, the absurdity of life. Stranger (1942)

  

EXISTENTIALISM

A body of philosophical thought focusing on

  “ the uniqueness and isolation of individual experience in a universe indifferent or hostile to humans, regarding human existence as unexplainable, and emphasizing man’s

freedom of choice and responsibility for the

consequences of his acts.

• **Take a minute with a partner and break down

  this definition. Write your own version of the

What is What is

• The word first appeared in 1941

Existentialism? Existentialism?

• •Branch of philosophy based on the situation of the

  individual in an absurd or meaningless universe where humans have free will

• Existentialists argue that people are responsible

  for and the sole judge of their actions as they affect others.

• Individuals must not allow their choices to be

BACKGROUND

  Sartre, in his lecture “Existentialism and Human Emotions,” formed the slogan “Existence precedes Essence.” He illustrated this slogan with four points:

  1. We have no predetermined nature or essence that controls what we are, what we do, or what is valuable for us.

  2. We are radically free to act independently of determination by outside influences.

  

3. We create our own human nature through these free

choices.

  The Basic Existentialist Standpoint:  Existence precedes essence. _

  Essence: the basic, real, and invariable nature of a

thing or its significant individual feature or features

_ Man exists without a predetermined purpose 

  Man is a conscious subject rather than a thing to be predicted or manipulated.

  

  Man exists as a conscious being, and not in accordance with any definition, generalization, or system.

  

More Existentialist Themes/Ideas



  Identities are constructed by the individual consciousness only.

  

  Values are subjective- no preset right or wrong.

   We are all condemned to be free. 

  Bad faith: when individuals under pressure from societal forces adopt false values and disown their innate freedom to act authentically.

  

  Antihero & The Psychological Novella 

  Antihero: A nontraditional protagonist or non hero who presents none of the skill, intelligence or nobility of the standard hero. Is Meursault one?

  

  Psychological Novella: Study of a character’s mind with emphasis on motivation, internal dialogue, and circumstance

  

  Readers observe his character, values,

  Moral Individualism 

  There are no universal, objective standards for right and wrong.

  

  No objective, rational basis exists for moral decisions.

  

  The individual must decide which situations are to count as moral situations.

  

  The individual is responsible for all of the consequences of one’s actions.

A Poem by Stephen Crane

  A man said to the universe: “Sir I exist!”

  “However,” replied the universe, “the fact has not created in me a sense of obligation.” Choice and Commitment 

  Humanity’s primary distinction is the freedom to choose; the choices an individual makes create his or her nature.

   Choice is inescapable; even the refusal to choose is a choice.

   Freedom of choice involves commitment; one must accept the risk and responsibility of following that commitment.

   Anxiety stems from our understanding and recognition of the total freedom of choice that confronts us every moment, and the individual’s confrontation with nothingness.

  Absurdity 

  The doctrine that human beings live in essential isolation in a meaningless and irrational world.

   Absurdists do not believe suicide is the answer. You should choose to make the

most of what you have while you’re living.

   I am my own existence, but…this existence is absurd.

  

The human situation is ambiguous, rather

than rational or something that can be