Mark André ’s Reviews > The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays > Status Update
Mark André
is on page 98 of 151
. . . it being understood that living in this case is just as much experiencing as reflecting. The work then embodies an intellectual drama. The absurd work illustrates thought’s renouncing of its prestige and its resignation to being no more than the intelligence that works up appearances and covers with images what has no reason. If the world were clear, art would not exist.
— Jun 26, 2025 12:27PM
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Mark’s Previous Updates
Mark André
is on page 8 of 151
We get into the habit of living before acquiring the habit of thinking.
— Nov 08, 2026 08:45AM
Mark André
is on page 74 of 151
To a conscious man old age and what it portends are not a surprise. Indeed, he is conscious onlyin so far as he does not conceal its horror from himself.
— Jun 25, 2025 02:24PM
Mark André
is on page 74 of 151
We call love what binds us to certain creatures only by reference to a collective way of seeing for which books and legends are responsible. But of love I know only that mixture of desire, affection, and intelligence that binds me to this or that creature. That compound is not the same for another person. I do not have the right to cover all these experiences with the same name.
— Apr 04, 2025 09:46AM
Mark André
is on page 66 of 151
What, in fact, is the absurd man?
[...]
Assured of his temporally limited freedom, of his revolt devoid of future, and of his mortal consciousness, he lives out his adventure within the span of his lifetime. That is his field, that is his action, which he shields from any judgement but his own.
— Apr 04, 2025 09:05AM
[...]
Assured of his temporally limited freedom, of his revolt devoid of future, and of his mortal consciousness, he lives out his adventure within the span of his lifetime. That is his field, that is his action, which he shields from any judgement but his own.
Mark André
is on page 66 of 151
If Stavrogin believes, he does not think he believes. If he does not believe, he does not think he does not believe. —The Possessed
— Apr 02, 2025 11:44AM
Mark André
is on page 64 of 151
When Nietzsche writes: “...in the long run there results something for which it is worth the trouble of living on this earth as, for example, virtue, art, music, the dance, reason, the mind—something that transfigures, something delicate, mad, or divine,” he elucidates the rule of a really distinguished code of ethics. But he also points the way of the absurd man. Obeying the flame is both the easiest and hardest...
— Apr 02, 2025 10:54AM
Mark André
is on page 56 of 151
The absurdity peculiar to this problem comes from the fact that the very notion that makes the problem of freedom possible also takes away all its meaning. For in the presence of God there is less a problem of freedom than a problem of evil. You know the alternative: either we are not free and God the all-powerful is responsible for evil. Or we are free and responsible but God is not all-powerful.
— Mar 31, 2025 05:56AM
Mark André
is on page 20 of 151
It was previously a question of finding out whether or not life had to have a meaning to be lived. It now becomes clear, on the contrary, that it will be lived all the better if it has no meaning
— Mar 27, 2025 08:11AM
Mark André
is on page 20 of 151
It was previously a question of finding out whether or not life had to have a meaning to be lived. It now becomes clear, on the contrary, that it will be lived all the better if it has no meaning. Living an experience, a particular fate, is accepting it fully. Now, no one will live this fate, knowing it to be absurd, unless he does everything to keep before him that absurd brought to light by consciousness.
— Mar 16, 2025 01:42PM
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Mr. James wrote: "I find it true."I’m not immediately sure exactly what brother Camus is implying here? Art is a rather large and specialized category of human activity. And to dismiss its necessity/contribution to human endeavor is a big step. On the other hand, the jist of Camus discussion seems to me to be that existence: the universe and our unasked for participation in it is ununderstandable and that Art is our bold/feeble attempt to sooth some of anguish in being here?
Thank you, Nathalie! >)Nice to hear from you. I’m a bit in over my head here, but the statement is a most interesting conjecture. And brother Camus does seems to offer it with a lot of authority/certainty.
No, existence and the universe combined are absurd, but are understandable in isolation -- yet humans are incapable of understanding an unfathomable universe. There is no way to definitely know what the meaning of life is, to apply meaning is an absurd action -- combining two incongruous parts and claiming there is a universal truth. Camus does however embrace life and art's absurdity, and stops trying to figure it out. Meaning Sisyphus can enjoy the life that surrounds him as he rolls the boulder up the hill; he does not worry about the futility of the action.
"Absurd art" is supposed to peel off pretentious masks humans put on objects, performances, etc. Absurd art is self aware: meaning is mailable, and there is no absolute value or truth, but it's nevertheless beautiful.
"What's the meaning of Waiting for Godot?"
"I haven't the faintest idea," Beckett said.
Mr. James wrote: "No, existence and the universe combined are absurd, but are understandable in isolation -- yet humans are incapable of understanding an unfathomable universe. There is no way to definitely know wha..."I find the existence or awareness of stars and dna incomprehensible. And though it’s fun to think about the where and the why accepting the unanswerable absurdity of such questions is fine with me. I never look for meaning in art: printed, painted or played. Just the pleasure and the awe that I have the faculty and education to enjoy it is enough for me.
Thank you, Mary! >)It’s the final line that interests me most. To state that Art would not exist is a very bold assertion. I do like Camus though.
Thank you, Liong. >)Good to hear from you. I like Camus’ idea that our existence here as human beings and all the surrounding cosmos are realities that are impossible to understand. I don’t try and explain Bach, but his music, his creative genius gives me a solace I find often reassuring.
I like the last line. Rather sweeping!