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  • Essay / Theme of Absurdity and Human Resilience in “The Myth of Sisyphus”

    Table of ContentsIntroductionAnalysis of “The Myth of Sisyphus”The Theme of AbsurdityThe Theme of Human ResilienceConclusionReferencesIntroductionPhilosophical perspectives have long been considered a guide for humanity. Although some of these views may seem abstract and supernatural, many of them can be directly applied to everyday life and its myriad experiences. Early philosophers included Thales of Miletus, often hailed as the progenitor of ancient Greek philosophy, as well as Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, and many others. They tackled themes such as love, existence and logic, striving to uncover the truth. Throughout history, various philosophical works have been exposed, adopted and criticized, including Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics", Plato's "Apology of Socrates", Voltaire's "Candide" and countless others, all with the common goal of discerning the truth. Scott (1995) highlights Plato as the first philosopher to question whether the mind has innate resources for learning or whether it 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 should not be banned”?Get the original essayAnalysis of “The Myth of Sisyphus” Cruickshank (2019) takes us through the life of Albert Camus, born November 7, 1913 in Algeria, and died on January 4, 1960 in France. Camus was a famous novelist, essayist and playwright, known for works like "The Plague", "The Fall", "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 sought to address the issue of suicide and articulate his views on the legitimacy and necessity of questioning the meaning of life. He argued that, regardless of belief or lack of belief in God, suicide is an illegitimate act. "The Myth of Sisyphus" invites the reader into the life of Sisyphus, a central figure in Camus' work. Sisyphus was considered by some to be the most cunning of mortals, but he was condemned by the gods to continually roll a boulder up a hill, only to see it roll back down - a completely futile task. Sisyphus' eternal punishment stemmed from his daring act of chaining death, in an attempt to spare humanity from mortality – an act that infuriated the gods. Camus depicts Sisyphus as the absurd hero who, despite the seemingly meaningless nature of his task, lived a meaningful life, 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 concerns humans striving to discover meaning and purpose in life, which can lead to two main conclusions. The first involves adopting a belief system rooted in abstract or religious concepts, while the second asserts that life is devoid of meaning and purpose in an irrational universe. Plato also uses absurdity to refer to erroneous reasoning or to reaching false conclusions based on false premises. According to Camus (1995), absurdity is often linked to the notion of suicide. People often face questions about the value and meaning of life, which can lead to considering self-harm, regardless of their religious beliefs. Paradoxically, those who find.