Blaise Pascal and Albert Camus Free Essay Example, 1500 words

With reference to this perennially self perpetuating condition, Camus states, â€Å"The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is tragic only at the rare moments when it becomes conscious. Sisyphus, proletarian of the gods, powerless and rebellious, knows the whole extent of his wretched condition: it is what he thinks of during his descent. The lucidity that was to constitute his torture at the same time crowns his victory. There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn† (Camus 28). The inescapable nature of humankind’s wretched existence is thereby tied to the fact that even though it is impossible to find inherent value and meaning in life, each human being, regardless of societal stature, wealth, or age, seeks to do so. Perhaps the most obvious conclusion that can be drawn from this is that humanity is in a way wretched due to the fact that it is foolish in its goals and intentions; wasting valuable life energy and resources chasing after something that will never be accom plished. We will write a custom essay sample on Blaise Pascal and Albert Camus or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page The essential unit of comparison between Pascal and Camus is not in their agreement of the nature of this wretchedness; but in the fact that they agree that humanity is wretched based upon an inability to know and understand his place or the full knowledge of the universe surrounding him. Is quite obviously, the greatest differential between these two philosophers is the separation of time. Whereas Blaise Pascal was a prominent philosopher of the 18th century, Albert Camus is a more recent 20th century philosopher that died in 1960. The importance of relating the historical context to this particular comparison and contrast between these two individuals is predicated upon the fact that the understanding of thought and the relationship of religion to the way in which these individuals defined the world around them was essentially and entirely different.