Download Albert Camus

The Guest &
Drunken Woman
Philosophy, Politics and the Self
Camus & Three Philosophical
Movements
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Existentialism: A belief that neither
human beings nor the universe has
any essential nature. Humans
construct their natures through their
choices.
Absurdism: A belief that our need for
meaning is greater than the ability of
the universe to be meaningful - all
philosophical positions absurd.
Moralism: A philosophical enquiry
into the ethical implications of the
human condition.
Camus’ Existential Moralism
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Human beings inhabit a universe
in which there are no absolute
guidelines; however, we have an
ethical sense that we try to live
up to.
Life constantly presents us with
moral choices without giving us
the right answers
The various ways that we try to
define and construct a moral
code and then live by it constitute
our moral being
Once that code is established,
we define ourselves as moral
beings by the choices that we
make within the ethical system
that we construct.
Daru’s Choice
Daru’s choice of whether to take the Arab
prisoner to be executed or to set him free
represents the kinds of moral choices that
we all make: there are no solid guidelines for
him to use, but there are genuine moral
implications to whatever he decides.
Think of the politics of his country and the
ramifications for his school if he refuses, but
then what about his conscience if he
complies?
The Arab’s Choice
The Arab’s choice represents the existential
choice that we all make. He is given
complete freedom to live or die, but
chooses execution. Is it because death is
preferable to the discomfort of real,
meaningful freedom? Or could there be
another reason? Being a martyr or
obligations of the guest?
Clarice Lispector
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Intensely feminine writer who articulates the
needs and concerns of every woman in
pursuit of self-awareness.
Introspective writings, questioning of human
relationships and the social constraints which
threaten rather than foster meaningful
communication
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saw the human condition as flawed, fragmentary
and incomplete; the darker side of our nature as
being compounded of fear, revulsion, cruelty and
hatred.
she set about trying to reconcile freedom with
restraint, humility with pride, solitude with the need
to communicate. Strength had to be drawn from
weakness, human reversals transformed into
salvation.
A belief that the problem of existence is often
of language itself.
Daydreams of a Drunken Woman
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Why do we drink? Because
we are happy or unhappy?
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Story illustrates various stages of
Inebriation
Story also shows us visions of
ourselves while drunk, how we
perceive others, and how others
perceive us
What happens when it’s all
over? What has changed?