It has been just over one year since I have published anything on Littermature.
I have not-not been writing, I just haven’t published anything.
My reasoning behind this is that I do not want to force creativity. I am intuitive with my approach as to what I deem worthy of sharing, and to be honest I needed the break to experience my life in the moment.
Some might say it’s impulsive— others might call it an excuse — but, I like to think that I am following my own intuition,– and that’s what’s important.
Recently, I undertook the grand excursion to walk the Camino Frances. My journey started in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France and technically ended at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostella, Spain. Realistically, it ended at the airport in Vigo, Spain.
At the end of this journey, I find myself a changed man with a changed perspective —I guess walking 900km on foot with a pack will do that to a person. There were literal ups and downs, but to be honest with you– I LOVED EVERY DAMN MINUTE OF IT! It is something I would do again, and it is something I would recommend to ANYONE.
Baruch Spinoza was a 17th century rationalist who spun his philosophy monistically around the belief that mind, and matter — are ultimately one, and the same.
Stepping away from his Judaic roots, Spinoza radically redefined the traditional views of existence, and the role of God within the cosmos.
Here are 5 things that the ‘Prince’ of Philosophers left us with:
The city is so much darker than what I am used to. It’s great actually.
There is an over abundance of stimulating blue light EVERYWHERE in Toronto. What with all the LED’s– Hi-Def this, Hi-Def that. Here in Athens it doesn’t seem so. There is a simple dim lighting everywhere. Though the stars aren’t as plentiful as if you were in a more remote area, you can still see the sky with a little bit more– clarity. Clarity might not even be the word for it, as everything just seems closer. Closer, as if it is possible in reaching the moon with a stretching fingertip. Beyond this, the feel of this place is so relaxed, and very open.
We may not always be privy to it, but smell is a huge component to our emotional selves. Scent has the ability to alter our emotions within an instant.
Consider this, you’re walking down the street and happen to pass a bakery,
The pleasant smells associated with all those delicious baked goods can instantly put a smile on your face. They can trigger thoughts, experiences, and inspire emotions of curiosity. Such smells can instantly bring us into places of happiness, joy, and exuberance.
Likewise, consider walking past a dump or industrial refinery. Somewhere that has a strong, pungent, and repulsive smells.
Albert Camus was a 20th Century French existentialist thinker. He reshaped philosophy and existentialist thought by attributing to the absurdism in living.
As an ambassador for the individuals freedom of choice, Albert Camus underlined the concept of personal empowerment. In doing so, his philosophical thinking painted a bleak, but optimistic outlook into coping with the absurdity of life.
In this modern and maddening world,
Here are 5 elements to walk with from the revolving life and philosophy of Albert Camus:
1. LIFE IS MEANINGLESS, BUT NOT MISERABLE
Like most existentialists philosophy, Albert Camus would agree that life is utterly meaningless. To further on this quote he epically defined meaning as:
“The literal meaning of life is whatever you’re doing that prevents you from killing yourself.” — Camus
As bleak as it seems, Camus was actually a very upbeat, and optimistic individual:
Ironically, he acquired a taste for the finer things in life, as he rather enjoyed maintaining his image, dress, and style.
He was also a very sociable person, and it would probably be an understatement to simply state that he was quite popular with the ladies.
2. WE MUST CREATE OUR OWN MEANING
Although there is an absurd meaninglessness of life, he firmly believed it a necessity for us to continually search for meaning.
In this regard, Camus was a firm believer in creating subjective meaning within your own life, regardless of meaninglessness.
Camus largely attributed his own happiness to this personal philosophy.
Though he FIRMLY believed in meaninglessness OUT THERE– He created a life that was ultimately meaningful to him, DOWN HERE.
3. PLAY SPORTS AND ENGAGE IN COMPETITION
The very basic foundation of his moral code was derived from sport, sportsmanship, and team spirit:
At a young age, he was a goal keeper for the Racing Universitaire d’Alger (R.U.A). — A former multi-sport team of Algeria.
Their football team competed for the North African Cup — a small territorial football competition bordering few select European, and African countries.
Though brief, organized sport largely shaped his personal life. He attributed a large amount of weight to the importance of socialization through organized sport.
“Everything I know about morality and the obligations of men, I owe it to football.” — Camus
He was very appreciative of camaraderie in the pursuit of a common goal. Not to mention the sense of determination, and communal bravery that was met in overcoming adversity and challenges.
4. PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING
Given the nature of existentialism, it really paints a very negative outlook on what we are faced with in living. But in the bleakness, Camus is able to maintain a flicker of light through the sense of hope.
Though ridiculously grim, we can choose to overcome these daunting concepts in order to live happy, and fulfilling lives.
In this regard, he finds great positivity, by embracing the negative aspects in living. A perfect, and harmonious balance of the natural.
He also founded the Revolutionary Union Movement and Europe, which aimed to literally shed light on the lighter side of surrealist/existential thinking.
5. ACCEPTANCE IS KEY
In addressing the possibilities of coping with the nature of absurdity, Camus builds on three main strategies.
Suicide:
He viewed this as an irrational physical escape from living the madness. Camus firmly dismissed this as a feasible solution. He stated that this would only add to the absurdity of experience.
Finding faith:
Through typical, or other unorthodox means of transcendental belief. Camus identified such beliefs as philosophical suicide—a metaphysical escape from dealing with the absurdity.
Acceptance:
By actively falling into the physical and mental trials of living and absurdity, you cultivate the most freedom for yourself as an individual. Bound by no moral judgments in this life, you can be personally selective in cultivating meaning. You create yourself, and your living experience. The comfort of control in the uncontrollable event of things. This was Albert Camus’ core belief in how to live life.
“When life gives me lemons, I make beef stew” — Andy Milonakis
BONUS
6. HIS DEATH WAS INTERESTING
At 46, he died in an automobile accident on January 4, 1960.
He was a passenger driving with his publisher– Michel Gallimard. Camus was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, while Gallimard passed away 5 days afterwards.
Though there is really nothing to say regarding the tragedy of a car accident, The contents of his lined pocket illustrate an interesting concept:
His pocket contained an unused train ticket that he deferred in using at the very last-minute. He opted to hitch this “deadly” ride with his publisher instead.
It can be ascertained that Camus was supportive in the sense of control brought on by the ability to make choices within our lifetime. But in this regard, what can be said about fate, free will, and determinism. Is it coincidentally an interesting story to tell, or something fated/fundamentally orchestrated?
In any case,
Albert Camus‘ had a profound impact on 20th century philosophy, as the concepts of his words continue to shape thinkers of today.
In hoping to take something from his ideas, feel free to share or build on this list by commenting below.
I used to love debating about creationism— and I still do. But I am very much inclined to bias– from an evolutionary perspective.
I can’t lie, Darwinian evolution– survival of the fittest and natural selection, are concepts that make the most sense to me. And though I feel it is true that both can co-exist within themselves, I am still compelled to against against the typical creationist perspectives. Continue reading “Varying Perspectives–Words that Speak: Through God, or Gut.”→
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