A collaborative search for wisdom, at Middle Tennessee State University and beyond...
"The pluralistic form takes for me a stronger hold on reality than any other philosophy I know of, being essentially a social philosophy, a philosophy of 'co'"-William James
This makes so much sense! A lot of men aren't men they just say they are. But this post makes you question, "What is a man?". What values do a man display to be a man?
I don't think Camus was making a point about masculinity or gender identity. He and the existentialists generally are pointing out that we often deny our own freedom, treat ourselves and others as objects, and thus end up behaving in "bad faith". So their answer to "What is a (hu)man?" is: a free, responsible agent who too often rejects freedom and responsibility.
As much as humans evolved as a society, we are still primal beings and have primal tendencies. When society falls what are the first things that comes to mind? Food, Water, and Shelter. These core principles have allowed humans to evolve as a species, but we are still primates in a sense.
I believe that Camus was touching on our inner instincts and how humans tend to suppress those inner desires. Majority of the animal kingdom are incapable of not acting on their primal instincts thus the connection Camus is making here.
I personally feel as though Camus is illustrating who man will always have his core values of survival even though he (man) has developed to a point in which those skills of survival don't need to be exercised at maximum.#11
Maybe I'm just being contrarian, but I kinds think that's what makes human, human. Our remarkable ability to change who we are and adapt to the world around us as we wish. We naturally have the willpower (or ability to procure it over time) to push the Sisyphean rock up the mountain. Most animals are driven to build great works by instinct, like beehives or spiderwebs. What's to say society isn't humanities great structure?
This makes so much sense! A lot of men aren't men they just say they are. But this post makes you question, "What is a man?". What values do a man display to be a man?
ReplyDeleteI don't think Camus was making a point about masculinity or gender identity. He and the existentialists generally are pointing out that we often deny our own freedom, treat ourselves and others as objects, and thus end up behaving in "bad faith". So their answer to "What is a (hu)man?" is: a free, responsible agent who too often rejects freedom and responsibility.
DeleteAs much as humans evolved as a society, we are still primal beings and have primal tendencies. When society falls what are the first things that comes to mind? Food, Water, and Shelter. These core principles have allowed humans to evolve as a species, but we are still primates in a sense.
ReplyDeletei think this goes great with the whole gender identity. even tho i don't think he meant it for that, it fits in very well.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Camus was touching on our inner instincts and how humans tend to suppress those inner desires. Majority of the animal kingdom are incapable of not acting on their primal instincts thus the connection Camus is making here.
ReplyDeleteSection #5
I personally feel as though Camus is illustrating who man will always have his core values of survival even though he (man) has developed to a point in which those skills of survival don't need to be exercised at maximum.#11
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm just being contrarian, but I kinds think that's what makes human, human. Our remarkable ability to change who we are and adapt to the world around us as we wish. We naturally have the willpower (or ability to procure it over time) to push the Sisyphean rock up the mountain. Most animals are driven to build great works by instinct, like beehives or spiderwebs. What's to say society isn't humanities great structure?
ReplyDelete