I Rebel; Therefore I Exist: Exploring Albert Camus and the Absurd

Written by Amani Rizwan

Thumbnail & Banner Photo by Henri Cartier-Bresson on Magnum Photos

“One must imagine Sisyphus happy.” These were the words that revolutionised the philosophy world in 1942, and they were written by an Algerian–French man named Albert Camus. Born in Mondovi, Algeria, in 1913, Camus rose to prominence as a philosopher, author, and Nobel laureate, leaving an indelible mark on the philosophical landscape of the 20th century. Central to his philosophy is the concept of the absurd, a notion exemplified by the famous Greek mythological figure Sisyphus. 

Picture this: Sisyphus, the cunning king of Corinth, is condemned to push a massive boulder up a hill for eternity as punishment from the gods for trying to cheat death. One might shudder at the thought of doing nothing but pushing a big rock up a hill only for it to roll back down; up and down, up and down, up and down, for eternity. What is the point of this seemingly senseless and monotonous task? Well, dear reader, that is precisely the point. For Camus, Sisyphus represents the human condition, an existence devoid of inherent meaning and purpose that has led countless men to their demise. Just as Sisyphus perpetually rolls the boulder uphill, only to witness its descent, we humans engage in repetitive and often futile endeavours throughout our lives, constantly winning and then losing. 

Photo by Jeffery Hummel

However, Camus does not view this absurdity as a cause for despair. In fact, he finds it oddly liberating. Despite his toil, Sisyphus exhibits a certain defiance in the face of his absurd fate. Imagine him pausing mid-task, turning to the heavens, and giving a cheeky wink to the gods. Camus embraces this defiant spirit and encourages us to find meaning and fulfilment within the absurdity of existence, for questioning it opens a rabbit hole that is impossible to exit.

Camus' philosophy is rooted in recognising and accepting life's absurdity. He argues that once we fully acknowledge and accept the folly of life, we can attain a state of authentic freedom. By recognising that the universe is fundamentally indifferent to our existence, we are liberated from the burden of searching for a grand cosmic purpose – arguably one of man’s biggest conundrums. Instead, we are free to create our own meaning and derive satisfaction from the simple act of living, the little things in life that otherwise go unnoticed. 

In the face of this seemingly indifferent world, Camus suggests that we should rebel against the absurd and escape the mundane. This rebellion is not a call to arms or a grand political movement, but an individual stance against the irrationality and meaninglessness of existence. It is a brave act of defiance, like wearing a mischievous smile and laughing in the face of adversity. We rebel by finding joy in the everyday, by committing acts of good, by pursuing our passions, and by embracing life’s silliness as an opportunity for self-expression and creativity in opposition to moping about how nothing makes any sense.

While Sisyphus may appear trapped in a never-ending cycle, Camus posits that his story is no different than ours as we get up, go to work, come home, and do it all over again. We are all, in our own ways, pushing a boulder up our personal hills. But within this Sisyphean struggle lies the potential for personal growth and fulfilment. We can find meaning by focusing on the journey rather than the destination, immersing ourselves in the present moment, and finding beauty in the seemingly ordinary.

Picture Sisyphus again: his muscles bulging, sweat dripping down his forehead, but, this time, with a twinkle in his eye. Perhaps he has discovered that the secret to happiness lies not in conquering the summit but in completing the act of pushing the boulder itself, and noticing the flowers that have sprouted on his hill or perhaps by looking back and realising just how far he’s made it. Camus invites us to adopt a similar perspective in our lives. He challenges us to find contentment in the process, to appreciate the absurdity of our endeavours, the happy and the sad, the meaningful and the meaningless, and to embrace the inherent contradictions of human existence with a resolute and rebellious spirit. It is to realise that regardless of the number of times the boulder rolls down the hill, one will always be able to push it back up again. 

Ultimately, Albert Camus only had one point to make: there is no point. There was no point to Sisyphus slaving away on his hill, and no point to our existence. This is why Camus urges us not to abandon hope, but to marvel at the life we’re given and realise that no matter how many times life tries to knock us down, to exist is to rebel. That is precisely why we must imagine Sisyphus laughing at his fate - and do the same.

 I’d like to end with a quote spoken by none other than Albert Einstein: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”