The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays by Albert Camus, Justin O'Brien, Justin O'Brien (Translator)

next time I will read it slowerby Israel5

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July 10, 2009: A philosopher said: "I have thought about 3 seconds in deep thought each year. And nothing more." This must be true of Camus. He must have spent several seconds thinking of the absurd. And this is monstrous more than the average thinker. We on the other hand think of one tenth of a second in deep thought in his entire life. Because, this philosophical work burns. And one can not touch it for too long.

Sisyphus was punished by the gods and commanded to carry a huge rock up a mountain, then let it drop back, repeat again... This book is supposed to be about suicide, and it is. Life was equated to Sisyphus' absurd punishment. And we ask ourselves then why do we live at all?

But it is also about: atheism and Reason. My favorite quote from the book:"Reflection on suicide gives me an opportunity to raise the only problem to interest me: is there a logic to the point of death?" Leads me to the criticism of Reason. And this reason is the atheistic Reason. If one adhered to God "logic to the point of death?" The question will never arise. But the conclusion is not much of importance. "One must imagine Sisyphus happy." This is simple formalism. Life as a story, can end good, bad, and something else. Camus in this book chose "good" But truly the ending does not come at the end. "the happy Sisyphus". But rather in the middle of the work. "The proceeding merely defines a way of thinking. But the point is to live."

It makes you question yourself! Are you a modern version of Sisyphus?by Anonymous

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September 14, 2005: This essay is great! It makes you question yourself! I thought that it was well written with some amazing points! It is interest to see that some of the same social and economic problems that Sisyphus delt with still plagues us today. You're think by now, that some of these problems would have been solved. This essay was an eye opener, & true learning experience!