Wednesday, May 30, 2018

May 28th Book Discussion: "The Stranger" by Albert Camus


Image result for the stranger camus quotes absurdism


The Stranger is a deeply philosophical book, and to many readers the book is strange and boring.  They are reading the book like a contemporary novel - focused on the plot and action to make sense and have completeness.  Camus wanted readers to embrace chaos and understand not all actions have a purpose.

This novel has impact. The author, Albert Camus, was the inventor of the term "absurdism." Absurdism states that the universe has no inherent meaning  and is filled with chaos. Camus believed that we are born without a purpose or rules.  Yet, he never states that man can't find a purpose or create his/her own.  In The Stranger, you (the reader)  decides if the narrator of The Stranger has any control.

Want to learn more about Camus and absurdity?  Checkout philosophytalk.org.
https://www.philosophytalk.org/blog/camus-and-absurdity
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1 comment:

  1. Katherine (Kat) ClowersMay 30, 2018 at 9:30 AM

    Today at discussion several individuals questioned the reason behind the title - The Stranger. Several academics believe the book was mistranslated from French and the title should read "The Foreigner." Either as the stranger or as the foreigner, Messault is an outsider differnt form the community in which he lives.

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