Albert Camus Radio 2024 Dr. Simon Lea's Address to The Albert Camus Society 2024 London "Revelation and the Absurd in Camus' First Cycle of Works."
Jul 15, 2025
Dr. Simon Lea, a leading Camus scholar, delves into the complexities of the absurd in Camus' first works. He argues that awareness of the absurd can't resolve moral dilemmas, highlighting the tension between individual lives and life's inherent value. Lea critiques responses to the absurd and discusses how Camus, influenced by Nietzsche, aims for morality without divine authority. He also explores the narratives of Sisyphus and characters like Daru and Meursault, showcasing their struggles and revelations in confronting the absurd.
39:14
Absurdity Is A Clash Between Myth And Reality
- The absurd is an experience of being bereft of myth that grounds meaning.
- It arises when we know life is valuable but cannot justify that value in reality.
Rebellion Keeps Meaning Grounded In Reality
- Camus follows Nietzsche but insists we must remain faithful to reality while creating meaning.
- Rebellion is continual awareness of the absurd that grounds any personal myth in reality.
Myth, Not Argument, Supports Secular Morality
- Camus uses myth, not argument, to make morality without God conceivable.
- Myths aim to reveal truths like human dignity without providing logos-style proofs.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app 1 chevron_right 2 chevron_right 3 chevron_right 4 chevron_right 5 chevron_right 6 chevron_right 7 chevron_right 8 chevron_right 9 chevron_right 10 chevron_right 11 chevron_right 12 chevron_right 13 chevron_right 14 chevron_right 15 chevron_right 16 chevron_right 17 chevron_right 18 chevron_right 19 chevron_right
Intro
00:00 • 4min
Question: Can Awareness Solve Moral Dilemmas?
04:23 • 41sec
Defining the Absurd and Myths
05:05 • 1min
Absurd: Knowledge of Life's Value
06:10 • 2min
Responses: Ignoring or Inventing Meaning
08:26 • 2min
Nietzsche's Influence and Limits
10:22 • 1min
Rebellion as Continual Awareness
11:49 • 2min
Nihilism, Why, and Moral Foundations
13:47 • 2min
Myth vs. Argument: Sisyphus as Revelation
15:52 • 1min
Camus' Aim: Morality Without God
17:15 • 2min
Limits: The Absurd Can't Solve Dilemmas
18:55 • 2min
Moral Narcissism Critique
21:19 • 2min
Narcissus and the Echo Chamber
23:20 • 4min
Responses to Critics of The Rebel
26:59 • 2min
Exile and the Kingdom: Showing Narcissism
28:39 • 2min
Daru as Failed Rebel
30:41 • 2min
Mersault, Epiphany, and Failed Responses
33:05 • 1min
Absurd Grounds Morality but Not Rules
34:09 • 4min
Outro
37:40 • 1min
#
Tolstoy's Confessions
Leo Tolstoy
"Confession" is an autobiographical work by Leo Tolstoy in which he recounts his spiritual crisis and search for meaning in life.
Tolstoy describes his disillusionment with worldly success and the intellectual pursuits of his time, leading him to question the purpose of existence.
He explores various philosophical and religious perspectives, ultimately finding solace in a simplified form of Christian faith.
Tolstoy advocates for a life of humility, compassion, and connection with the common people, rejecting the materialism and social inequalities of his era.
The book is a deeply personal and introspective account of Tolstoy's spiritual journey, offering insights into his evolving worldview and his commitment to moral and social reform.
#
The Misunderstanding
Le Malentendu
Albert Camus
The Misunderstanding (Le Malentendu) is a play by Albert Camus, first published in 1944.
The play centers on Jan, who returns to his childhood home, an inn run by his mother and sister, Martha.
Unrecognized by his family, Jan decides to test their love by concealing his identity.
Driven by despair and a longing for wealth and escape, Martha and her mother murder travelers who stay at their inn.
The situation escalates when they kill Jan, failing to recognize him until it is too late.
Camus explores themes of alienation, the destructive nature of human desires, and the tragic consequences of miscommunication.
The play is a dark exploration of human relationships, questioning the possibility of finding connection and understanding in a world marked by isolation and despair.
#1350
• Mentioned in 25 episodes
The will to power
Friedrich Nietzsche
The Will to Power is a compilation of Friedrich Nietzsche's notes and fragments, edited and published posthumously by his sister Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche and others.
The book is based on Nietzsche's intention to write a comprehensive work titled 'The Will to Power, An Attempt at a Revaluation of All Values.
' It explores his central philosophical concept of the 'will to power,' which he believed was the fundamental driving force in all living beings.
The work delves into various aspects of human life, including morality, art, science, and metaphysics, and critiques traditional values and morality.
Despite not being a completed work by Nietzsche himself, it remains a key component of his philosophical legacy.
#1060
• Mentioned in 30 episodes
The birth of tragedy
Friedrich Nietzsche
In this work, Nietzsche discusses the history of the tragic form and introduces the intellectual dichotomy between the Dionysian and the Apollonian.
He argues that Greek tragedy arose from the fusion of these elements, with the Apollonian representing measure, restraint, and harmony, and the Dionysian representing unbridled passion.
Nietzsche also critiques Socratic rationalism and its impact on Greek tragedy and modern culture, advocating for a rebirth of tragedy inspired by Richard Wagner’s music.
#20980
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
A Happy Death
Albert Camus
A Happy Death, written by Albert Camus between 1936 and 1938, is a philosophical novel that delves into the themes of happiness, mortality, and the pursuit of a meaningful life.
The story follows Patrice Mersault, a young man who seeks to create his own happiness by unconventional means.
The novel was published posthumously in 1971 and serves as a precursor to Camus's more famous work, 'The Stranger'.
#480
• Mentioned in 52 episodes
The Myth of Sisyphus
Albert Camus
In 'The Myth of Sisyphus', Albert Camus delves into the concept of the absurd, which arises from the conflict between humanity's desire for meaning and the apparent indifference of the universe.
Camus argues that this absurdity does not justify suicide but rather requires a revolt against it.
He introduces Sisyphus, a figure from Greek mythology condemned to eternally push a boulder up a mountain only for it to roll back down, as the ideal absurd hero.
Camus suggests that Sisyphus's acceptance of his fate and his continued effort to push the boulder up the mountain, despite its futility, exemplify the human condition and the possibility of finding happiness in the face of absurdity.
The essay also discusses other examples of absurd lives and includes an appendix on the works of Franz Kafka.
#2115
• Mentioned in 17 episodes
The rebel
Albert Camus
In 'The Rebel', Albert Camus delves into the nature of rebellion and revolution, exploring their motivations, historical developments, and philosophical implications.
The book discusses how rebellion stems from a human rejection of normative justice and the absurdity of the world.
Camus distinguishes between true and false freedom, critiques various historical and intellectual figures such as the Marquis de Sade and Friedrich Nietzsche, and analyzes the French Revolution and other revolutionary movements.
He argues that while rebellion gives life its value and is a constant confrontation between man and his own obscurity, it often leads to totalitarianism and oppression if not tempered by moral and metaphysical limitations.
The book emphasizes the importance of maintaining individual freedom and solidarity in the face of rebellion and revolution.
#1085
• Mentioned in 29 episodes
The stranger
Albert Camus
Published in 1942, 'The Stranger' tells the story of Meursault, a Frenchman living in Algiers, who is characterized by his emotional detachment and apathy.
The novel begins with Meursault's indifferent reaction to his mother's death and follows his journey through a series of events, including a senseless murder, which leads to his trial and sentencing.
Camus uses Meursault's story to illustrate his philosophy of the absurd, highlighting the lack of inherent meaning in life and the importance of accepting and living with this reality.
The novel also explores the tensions between French colonialists and native Algerians, reflecting Camus's own experiences and critiques of colonialism.
#77131
Exile and the kingdom
Albert Camus
Exile and the Kingdom est une collection de six nouvelles publiées en 1957 par Albert Camus.
Ces histoires abordent des thèmes tels que la solitude, l'absurdité et le sentiment d'être étranger dans sa propre société.
Les personnages, souvent des outsiders, naviguent entre différents mondes culturels, notamment en Algérie et en France.
Les nouvelles mettent en lumière la quête humaine pour trouver un sens et une place dans un monde apparemment sans signification.
#
The Just Assassins
Albert Camus
#55328
Caligula
Albert Camus
The play 'Caligula' by Albert Camus follows the transformation of the Roman Emperor Caligula after the death of his sister and lover, Drusilla.
This event triggers an existential crisis in Caligula, leading him to question the meaning of life and to seek the impossible.
He adopts a nihilistic philosophy, believing that if life lacks meaning, he can impose his will on others through brutal and arbitrary actions.
The play depicts Caligula's descent into madness and tyranny, highlighting his struggle against the absurdity of existence and the consequences of his actions.
The narrative explores themes of power, freedom, and human despair, culminating in Caligula's deliberate manipulation of his own assassination.
The play is part of Camus's 'Cycle of the Absurd' and serves as a reflection on morality, justice, and personal responsibility.
Here is a fantastic episode by one of the world's leading Camus scholars, Dr. Simon Lea.
The entire paper will be available in The Journal of Camus Studies.
Below is the abstract of the paper:
Albert Camus planned his works in cycles. Each were to contain an essay, a novel and plays. The first cycle wasconcerned with the absurd and the second with rebellion. Camus' life was tragically cut short in a motor accident before he could complete the third cycle. Between the second and third cycles, after the furore resulting from his publication of The Rebel, Camus wrote several texts that are not includedin his cyclical works. This paper is concerned with Camus' first cycle on the absurd and the following texts: The Myth of Sisyphus, The Stranger, Caligula and The Misunderstanding. In particular, I am interested in the role played by revelation in the communication of the absurd in these works. In this paper, I use the term 'revelation' in reference tomaking known something relating to the human condition via a process that is difficult or even impossible to understand. My argument is that Camus, drawing upon Nietzschean influences, is seeking in his first cycle to induce revelatoryexperiences in his readers in order to communicate ideas concerning the absurd.
Please check out The Albert Camus Society.