In class we've discussed connections between Meursault's anti-religious philosophy and Existentialism. Existentialist philosophy is basically a way of thinking about life where you acknowledge the absurdity of your existence but battle against the universe's indifference by creating meaning for yourself. If we're following this definition of existentialism, then we can see that Meursault certainly agrees with the first statement: that the universe doesn't care about us.
He says, "...I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself -- so like a brother, really -- I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again" (Camus 123). It's kind of surprising to hear this introspective statement from a character who often seems emotionally closed, but this is a beautiful way to think about the world. The world doesn't have to care about us, and we don't have to ascribe any "deeper meaning" to the already profound mystery of human consciousness.
However, when you read this statement in the context of Meursault's compliance with Evil Raymond and his brutal murder of an innocent man, you can see that there's a lot missing from this version of existentialism. I am certainly not a philosophy expert, but as a human being I think it's imperative that your guiding philosophy should include some basic moral codes, such as DON'T KILL OTHER PEOPLE. Rather than being a way to exclude all moral obligations, I think that existentialist philosophy can actually ascribe new meaning to your morals.
While Merusault is facing his imminent execution and thinking about existentialist ideas, never once does he remember the man he killed. The nameless, faceless "Arab" never so much as crosses Meursault's mind. This glaring ommision is a final example of Meursault's failure to consider his existentialist philosophy in relation to others. He only thinks about himself, and I don't think that's the kind of existentialism that helps the rest of the world.
He says, "...I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself -- so like a brother, really -- I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again" (Camus 123). It's kind of surprising to hear this introspective statement from a character who often seems emotionally closed, but this is a beautiful way to think about the world. The world doesn't have to care about us, and we don't have to ascribe any "deeper meaning" to the already profound mystery of human consciousness.
However, when you read this statement in the context of Meursault's compliance with Evil Raymond and his brutal murder of an innocent man, you can see that there's a lot missing from this version of existentialism. I am certainly not a philosophy expert, but as a human being I think it's imperative that your guiding philosophy should include some basic moral codes, such as DON'T KILL OTHER PEOPLE. Rather than being a way to exclude all moral obligations, I think that existentialist philosophy can actually ascribe new meaning to your morals.
While Merusault is facing his imminent execution and thinking about existentialist ideas, never once does he remember the man he killed. The nameless, faceless "Arab" never so much as crosses Meursault's mind. This glaring ommision is a final example of Meursault's failure to consider his existentialist philosophy in relation to others. He only thinks about himself, and I don't think that's the kind of existentialism that helps the rest of the world.
I don't think you can say anyone is "bad at existentialism" or his philosophy is "lacking" because that presumes the idea of bad which is determined by your view of philosophy. He is definitely not a textbook existentialist but I don't connect that to any inherent badness. I think saying that humans need a morality against killing, or basic moral codes, or his ideology is lacking is using our existing societal norms to judge a different philosophical idea.
ReplyDeleteThis is all my opinion and maybe i'm wrong. And maybe there is an absolute set of rights and wrongs? Who knows!
I did not really see his lack of moral values as being linked to him being a good or bad existentialist. I definitely agree that Meursault has very immoral behavior, like helping his friend Raymond and then killing the man with no remorse, but I don't think these have anything to do with him being an existentialist. I think that that's just him being a bad person.
ReplyDeleteBut Meursault does hold existentialist philosophies, such as the belief that a person's life is nothing more than their physical being (at the end of the book, he mentions death just being something that happens to everyone eventually and that no one really matters in the world). He also rejects the idea that there is a god (during that scene in the prison with the chaplain), which is one of the main ideas of existentialism.