Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • French writer and philosopher: Albert Camus was a French writer and philosopher, known for his exploration of the human condition as isolated in an absurd world. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957.

Examples of Usage

• Proper noun:
  • Albert Camus wrote extensively about the philosophy of absurdism.
  • The novel "The Stranger" is a famous work by Albert Camus.
  • Students often study Albert Camus in modern philosophy courses.

Advanced Usage

• "Camusian" (adjective): Relating to or characteristic of the works or ideas of Albert Camus.
  • The play had a distinctly Camusian view of existential despair.

Variants and Related Words

• Absurdism (n): The philosophical theory, often associated with Albert Camus, that the universe is irrational and meaningless, and that the search for order brings the individual into conflict with the universe.
• The Absurd (n): In philosophy, the conflict between the human tendency to seek inherent value and meaning in life and the human inability to find any in a purposeless, meaningless, or chaotic universe, a concept central to Camus's work.

Synonyms

• Philosopher of the absurd: A descriptor for thinkers, like Camus, who focus on the concept of absurdism.
• Existentialist writer: While Camus rejected the existentialist label, his work is often discussed within this context.

Related Phrases

• "Camus's absurd hero": A term referring to characters in Camus's works, such as Meursault in "The Stranger," who confront the absurdity of existence.
  • Sisyphus is considered Camus's quintessential absurd hero.

Related Idioms

• "The Myth of Sisyphus": The title of a philosophical essay by Albert Camus, often used to refer to the concept of finding meaning in a repetitive, seemingly pointless task.
  • His daily commute felt like his own personal Myth of Sisyphus.

Noun

1. French writer who portrayed the human condition as isolated in an absurd world (1913-1960)