EXISTENIALISM

Definition

• term applied to the work of certain late 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound
• doctrinal differences,shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject
• not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual.

examples

• In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov experiences an existential crisis and then moves
• toward a Christian Orthodox worldview similar to that advocated by Dostoyevsky himself.
• Living your life without regard to commonly-held religious or social beliefs.
• Alice in Wonderland - Alice wishes she hadn’t come there but it was her decision and no one else’s.

relation to CAMUS

• He didn't consider being an existentialist, he often denied it.
• Often categorized with other existentialist philosophers.
• His works have many existentialist themes.
• Often regarded as an absurdist as well.

Relation to themes

• Passivity: Meursault doesn't take an active opinion in matters(ex. Raymond's wife)
• Mortality: Death is inevitable (Meursault's mom, dead Arab, Salamano's old dog)
• Religion: The abscence of a god and an afterlife (Meursault's atheistic beliefs)
• Would you think of urself like Meursault or the opposite?

Meursault

• Monotonous life and doesn't have any ambitions or new ideas (Job in Paris)
• Smoking Habits (not an addict but smokes since he has nothing else to do)
• No sense of commitment (Relationship to Marie doesn't mean much to him)
• Doesn't judge other people (no moral compass- Raymond as a friend)

CONCLUSION

• Meursault could of made better decisions obviously, but still blamed others.
• Camus is less of an existenalist then what we actually think.
• Americans do existentialist actions every day by making their own decisons that they could regret.
• Meursault's perspective on life is that he has no control so he should have no empathy.