Albert Camus was an existentialist philosopher. He wrote an essay discussing the myth of Sisyphus as an analogy for life. We all struggle to rise and reach the top, but ultimately we always return to the bottom of the hill.
At the end of the essay Camus concludes "All is well" and "we must imagine Sisyphus happy"
Most people look at existentialism as incredibly depressing, seeing only the idea that life has no meaning. They miss this message, to find joy in the task, to find happiness in each moment.
It was existentialism that got me through my depression. It's this story that I think of whenever I am down and it makes me feel happy again.
This was just a quick doodle I had to get out. It came to me as I was driving home in the dark as a soft snow fell. As I drove along the road my headlights were reflecting off the wet road onto the trees to the side and for a moment it was perfect.
It's the little things that matter.
Alright wall of text and philosofoxing over. I'll get back to drawing cute stuff.
At the end of the essay Camus concludes "All is well" and "we must imagine Sisyphus happy"
Most people look at existentialism as incredibly depressing, seeing only the idea that life has no meaning. They miss this message, to find joy in the task, to find happiness in each moment.
It was existentialism that got me through my depression. It's this story that I think of whenever I am down and it makes me feel happy again.
This was just a quick doodle I had to get out. It came to me as I was driving home in the dark as a soft snow fell. As I drove along the road my headlights were reflecting off the wet road onto the trees to the side and for a moment it was perfect.
It's the little things that matter.
Alright wall of text and philosofoxing over. I'll get back to drawing cute stuff.
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It is a french saying "so is life". I was being clever. Camus was french, and pretty much the point of existentialism is that life is exactly like pushing a boulder up a hill.
Or it would suck being in a death prison where I would be given lethal drugs, like Thiopental Sodium, Pancuronium Bromide, and Potassium Chloride.
I like how you made a strong commission with a philosphy B)
Ohh, I actually like this comparison to life. Have never really heard of Camus, but this is interesting.
Pretty interesting. I never thought of the myth of Sisyphus as a way of putting joy to the hardest work and task that will never be completed. Pretty cool. :)
OLD
j/k, you chose a good quote and a good philosopher; ok, not really "good" since he was hardly rigorous, but passionate, accessible, and direct. The same qualities I enjoy in Rand also.
j/k, you chose a good quote and a good philosopher; ok, not really "good" since he was hardly rigorous, but passionate, accessible, and direct. The same qualities I enjoy in Rand also.
Yeah, Ive always had a special place in my heart for Camus.
As for Rand, if anything I could give her passion, though I think in the end that's what bothers me about her writing. It always seemed to me to be ever so slightly off. Like she had a good idea then just took it to absurd levels. It really is a pity, she seemed like such a sad figure. She rebounded so far from communism that she sort of fell off the other end and died all alone :(
As for Rand, if anything I could give her passion, though I think in the end that's what bothers me about her writing. It always seemed to me to be ever so slightly off. Like she had a good idea then just took it to absurd levels. It really is a pity, she seemed like such a sad figure. She rebounded so far from communism that she sort of fell off the other end and died all alone :(
I hope this essay is uploaded online and well-translated, because I always thought of Sisyphus's punishment as a demonstration of one Greek gods' most cruel facets. Seeing it reinterpreted this way is... surprising, to say the least.
try Gutenberg. I am pretty sure the essay is fair use now. As for Sisyphus' punishment, yes. In the original myth is was demonstration of an extreme punishment. It is meant to be torture, a truly pointless task. That is the beauty of Camus' Absurdism. Everything in life is utterly pointless and meaningless, and thus you can make a single moment the most important thing ever.
It doesn't matter that the rock rolled back down, because you will reach the top again.
It doesn't matter that the rock rolled back down, because you will reach the top again.
Part of Camus' point is that yes, it IS a punishment, but even in punishment Sisyphus rebels. The gods can't punish Sisyphus by destroying him, because then there would be no Sisyphus to punish. So, by continuing to be and by throwing himself into an eternally incomplete task he becomes a rebel, an absurd hero. To Camus, all of life must be this kind of rebellion against the absurd. To know that trying to reach the top of the hill is meaningless, but rejoicing in it nonetheless.
http://dbanach.com/sisyphus.htm
http://dbanach.com/sisyphus.htm
Pieces like these with a little corresponding inspirational message always manage to brighten even the best of days. Thanks for sharing the wisdom :)
I wouldn't feel sorry for Sisyphus the fox, like you I imagine he is happy. He's eternal boulder pushing to some may see it as an outlet to attract many a vistor to help him push. It just goes to show you that through life you can have the aid of others through your own personal plights to ease and comfort one another in times of need and that you won't have to have as much burdened upon you in life. Then there are some of us who just love to help others,now let's get this boulder up this hill again. 'starts pushing' HHHUUUURRGGHH. Superb job.
To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
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