Absurdism, the Stranger and life“Absurdism” (coined by Albert Camus) is a philosophy based on the concept that life and the world are devoid meaningless, irrational, without sense or reason. And every effort we make to try to find meaning in them will ultimately fail. Albert Camus sees absurdity as a struggle, a force that pushes between our mind's desire for meaning and understanding and the empty world beyond. Arguing with Nagel, Camus stated: “I said the world is absurd, but I was too hasty. This world itself is not reasonable, that's all that can be said. But what is absurd is the comparison between this irrational and the wild desire for clarity, the call of which resonates in the human heart. The absurd depends as much on man as on the world.”[1] He goes on to say that there are specific human experiences that evoke notions of absurdity. Such a realization or encounter with the absurd leaves the individual with a choice: suicide, an act of faith, or recognition. He concludes that recognition, or realization, is the only defensible option.[2] The awareness that life is absurd and cannot be an end, but only a beginning. This is a truth that almost all great minds have taken as their starting point. It is not this discovery that is interesting, but the consequences and rules of action that derive from it.[3] From those actions comes Meursault's character. In the writing, Meursault is portrayed as an indifferent, honest and very strange man. He completely embodies the absurd and in many ways can be considered a reflection of the artist of the absurd in the myth of Sisyphus. Meursault expresses all the absurd characteristics outlined in the book: revolt, freedom and passion. Revolt - By not participating in social mores or following c...... middle of paper ...... as much about what others think of us, and how closely we follow popular culture, we could listen more closely what our heart wants to do. And if we could exemplify the absurd characteristics of our lives: revolt, freedom and pleasure, we could live life more fully: by rebelling against tomorrow we can come to terms with the present moment. By expressing our freedoms, we can then be liberated. And by finding the pleasures in life, we can finally begin to live the life we've always wanted to live. Works Cited[1]Altshuler, Roman. "The Senselessness of Life: Camus versus Nagel." The purposes of thought; Travels in the Third Kingdom of Philosophy. (2011)[2] Wikipedia “Absurdism”[3]Camus, Albert. "The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays." Vintage books. (1991)[4] 2.5.26 Camus, Albert. “The Stranger” Vintage International (1942).[5] Camus, Alberto. “Myth of Sisyphus” (1942)