Topic > The theme of absurdity and human resilience in "The Myth of Sisyphus"

IndexIntroductionAnalysis of "The Myth of Sisyphus"The theme of absurdityThe theme of human resilienceConclusionReferencesIntroductionPhilosophical perspectives have long been considered a guide for the humanity. While some of these visions may seem abstract and otherworldly, many can be directly applied to everyday life and its myriad experiences. Among the earliest philosophers were Thales of Miletus, often hailed as the progenitor of ancient Greek philosophy, as well as Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, and numerous others. They delved into topics such as love, existence and logic, trying to discover the truth. Throughout history, various philosophical works have been unveiled, embraced, and criticized, including Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics," Plato's "Apology of Socrates," Voltaire's "Candides," and countless others, all with l common goal of discerning the truth. Scott (1995) sheds light on Plato as the first philosopher to address the question of whether the mind possesses innate resources for learning or relies solely on experience. This essay will introduce the famous philosopher Albert Camus and his work "The Myth of Sisyphus", which explores the theme of absurdity and human resilience. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The analysis of "The Myth of Sisyphus" Cruickshank (2019) introduces us to the life of Albert Camus, born on November 7, 1913 in Algeria and died on January 4, 1960 in France. Camus was a celebrated novelist, essayist and playwright, known for works such as "The Plague", "La Chute", "The Rebel" and "The Myth of Sisyphus". Many of his works grappled with nihilism and the concept of absurdity. In 1995, Albert Camus published “The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays,” in which he attempted to address the issue of suicide and articulate his perspective on legitimacy and the need to question the meaning of life. He argued that regardless of one's belief in God or lack thereof, suicide is an illegitimate act. “The Myth of Sisyphus” invites readers into the life of Sisyphus, the central figure of Camus' work. Sisyphus was considered by some to be the most cunning of mortals, yet he was cursed by the gods to continually roll a rock up a hill, only to watch it roll down—an utterly useless task. Sisyphus' eternal punishment stemmed from his daring act of shackling death, with the goal of sparing humanity from mortality, an act that infuriated the gods. Camus portrays Sisyphus as the absurd hero who, despite the seemingly meaningless nature of his task, lived a life imbued with meaning, defying the concept of death. The theme of absurdity The main theme of "The Myth of Sisyphus" is absurdity. As described by Ansel Pereira (2019), absurdity in philosophy is about humans trying to discover meaning and purpose in life, which can lead to two main conclusions. The former involves adopting a belief system rooted in abstract or religious concepts, while the latter states that life is devoid of meaning and purpose in an irrational universe. Plato also uses absurdity to denote flawed reasoning or reaching false conclusions based on false premises. According to Camus (1995), absurdity is often intertwined with the notion of suicide. People often grapple with questions about the value and meaning of life, which can culminate in contemplation of self-harm, regardless of their religious beliefs. Paradoxically, those who find meaning in life can still contemplate death, since reasons for living can also become reasons for dying. Suicide is sometimes seen as a.