Arquivo de philosophy | Page 97 of 121

The Myth of Sisyphus, by Albert Camus

The yesterday that repeats methodically, the daily effort and the time, long time… Then it bursts into the tired mind: “Why?”—Suddenly, the being perceives itself before a crossroads: either he immediately neutralizes the manifestation of astonishment and becomes to the usual lethargy, or he will have to face the question that runs over all the others. If life is not justifiable, if the daily effort is useless, if death is peremptory condemnation, reason demands suicide. Is there a way out? How to find a different solution? Absurd! The mind demands an answer from a mute entity, wants to assimilate the illogical by reason, refuses to admit its impotence. But it needs an answer to exist. And if it is not able to remain silent and simply accept the imposing reality, it is forced to face its fate actively. Suicide is indispensable? the immediate suppression of pain and effort is the most sensible decision? No, says Camus, there is the revolt.

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The Understanding of Human Nature Demands the Detachment From Reason

The understanding of human nature demands, over and over again, the detachment from reason. To deny the irrational manifestations of the human being and external phenomena implies, besides arrogance, the limitation of one’s understanding. The reason, the experimental method, both present themselves limited as tools of reality apprehension. To recognize it is simply to keep eyes open. Knowledge requires humility, recognition of weaknesses, and the courage to go into strange territory. Jung, aware of the possibilities of reason,—and above all, aware of its strength,—sought in the study of religions, mythology, and medieval magic the answers that his analytical method would never be able to deliver because they exceeded its scope. He became perhaps the most brilliant psychologist of all time. For many, however, he was a deserter. And the many remain in their prepotent and monumental stupidity.

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The Crowd Is Essentially Cowardly

Whenever I am faced with mass aggression against an individual I notice, in the first instance, the inequality of combat. The time of duels is gone; the notion that honor, even if demeaned, demands loyal combat is gone. The crowd is essentially cowardly for taking advantage of numerical oppression. I can see that, even if the individual has done something reprehensible, I will never be able to roar at the sight of his head rolling. I always and compulsorily reject the disgusting roar of the crowd. I will never stand beside the impersonalized mob, the sum of cowards hiding under the mask of a “common cause” to assault.

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The Individual Repels the Group

The man capable of seeing the uniqueness of his existence will never be able to join any kind of organized group, except for interest. The circumstances that have formed his character and shaped his personality, mistakes, failures, regrets… all of this together make any sense of collective belonging impossible. To join a group is to simplify the complexity of one’s own experience, dishonoring it, diminishing the value of the lessons one has learned by force, being unworthy of one’s own resistance.

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