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ALBERT CAMUS: PHILOSOPHER
AND LITTERA TEUR
ALBERT CAMUS: PHILOSOPHER
AND LITTERA TEUR
ALBERT CAMUS: PHILOSOPHER
AND LITTERA TEUR
J oseph McBride
Palgrave Macmillan
ALBERT CAMUS: PHILOSOPHER
AND LITTERA TEUR
J oseph McBride
Palgrave Macmillan
© Joseph McBride 1992
The following have been cited with the permission of Librairie Gallimard, Paris:
Material from Albert Camus' L'Etrang" copyright © 1962, Editions Gallimard.
Material from Albert Camus' Caligula copyright © 1962, Editions Gallimard.
Material from Albert Camus' Lt Malmtendu copyright © 1962, Editions Gallimard.
Material from Albert Ca mus' Lt Mythe de Sisyphe copyright © 1965, Editions Gallimard and Calmann Levy.
Material from Roger Quilliot's introduction to Albert Ca mus' "Metaphysique chretienne et Neoplatonisme" copyright © 1965, Editions Gallimard and Calmann Levy.
English Language translation of Albert Camus' "Metaphysique chretienne et Neoplatonisme" copyright © 1965, Editions Gallimard and Calmann Levy.
The following have been reproduced by permission of Hamish Hamilton Ltd.:
Material from Albert Camus' Tbe Outsider, trans. by Stuart Gilbert, Harmondsworth: Pengui n Books, 1961. Copyright © Estate of Albert Camus, 1942.
Material from Albert Camus' Notebooks 1935-1942, trans. with an introduction and notes by Philip Thody, London: Hamish Hamilton, 1963. Copyright © 1962 by Librairie Gallimard. Translation copyright © 1963 by Hamish Hamilton Ltd., and Alfred A. Knopf [ne.
Material from Albert Camus' Caligula and Cross Purpose, trans. by Stuart Gilbert, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1965. Copyright © Librairie Gallimard, 1947.
Material from Albert Camus' Tbe Myth 01 Sisyphus, trans. by Justin O'Brien, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1975.
The following has been reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press:
Material from John Cruickshank's Albert Camus and the Literature 01 Revolt, London: Oxford University Press, 1959.
Grateful acknowledgement is also made to the following for permission to use material reproduced in this volume:
Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., for material from works of Saint Augustine contained in the Fathers 01 the Chureh, ed. L. Schopp, D. J. Deferrari, et al. (Catholic University of America Press, 1947- .)
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, for material from Albert Camus' Tbe Stranger, trans. Stuart Gilbert, copyright © 1946 by Alfred A. Knopf, [ne. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
© Joseph McBride 1992
The following have been cited with the permission of Librairie Gallimard, Paris:
Material from Albert Camus' L'Etrang" copyright © 1962, Editions Gallimard.
Material from Albert Camus' Caligula copyright © 1962, Editions Gallimard.
Material from Albert Camus' Lt Malentendu copyright © 1962, Editions Gallimard.
Material from Albert Ca mus' Lt Mythe de Sisyphe copyright © 1965, Editions Gallimard and Calmann Levy.
Material from Roger Quilliot's introduction to Albert Ca mus' "Metaphysique chretienne et Neoplatonisme" copyright © 1965, Editions Gallimard and Calmann Levy.
English Language translation of Albert Camus' "Metaphysique chretienne et Neoplatonisme" copyright © 1965, Editions Gallimard and Calmann Levy.
The following have been reproduced by permission of Hamish Hamilton Ltd.:
Material from Albert Camus' Tbe Outsider, trans. by Stuart Gilbert, Harmondsworth: Pengui n Books, 1961. Copyright © Estate of Albert Camus, 1942.
Material from Albert Camus' Notcbooks 1935-1942, trans. with an introduction and notes by Philip Thody, London: Hamish Hamilton, 1963. Copyright © 1962 by Librairie Gallimard. Translation copyright © 1963 by Hamish Hamilton Ltd., and Alfred A. Knopf [ne.
Material from Albert Camus' Caligula and Cross Purpose, trans. by Stuart Gilbert, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1965. Copyright © Librairie Gallimard, 1947.
Material from Albert Camus' Tbc Myth 01 Sisyphus, trans. by Justin O'Brien, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1975.
The following has been reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press:
Material from John Cruickshank's Albert Camus and the Literature 01 Revolt, London: Oxford University Press, 1959.
Grateful acknowledgement is also made to the following for permission to use material reproduced in this volume:
Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., for material from works of Saint Augustine contained in the Fathcrs 01 the Chureh, ed. L. Schopp, D. J. Deferrari, et al. (Catholic University of America Press, 1947- .)
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, for material from Albert Camus' Tbe Stranger, trans. Stuart Gilbert, copyright © 1946 by Alfred A. Knopf, [ne. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
For material from Tht Myth oJ Sisyphus afld Othtr Essays, by Albert Camus, trans. J. O'Brien, copyright © 1955 by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
For material from Nottbooks, 1935-1942 by Albert Camus, trans. P. Thody, copyright © 1963 by Hamish Hamilton Ltd. and Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
Herbert R. Lottman for material from Albtrt Caml/s: A Biography, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1979.
Elaine Greene Ltd., London, for material from Conor Cruise O'Brien's Caml/s, Fontana Books, 1970. Copyright © 1970 by Conor Cruise O'Brien.
Harper Collins Publishers, London, for material frorn Conor Cruise O'Brien's Caml/S, Fontana Books, 1970.
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1 st edition 1992 978-0-312-07597-2
All rights reserved. For information, write: Scholarly & Reference Division, St. Martin's Press, Inc., 175 Fifth Avenue, NewYork, NY 10010 First published in the United States of Arnerica 1992
ISBN 978-1-349-60612-2 ISBN 978-1-137-07393-8 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-137-07393-8
library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data McBride, Joseph. Albert Camus : philosopher and litterateur / Joseph McBride.
p.cm. Inc1udes bibliographical references and index.
I. Ca mus, Albert, 191 3-1 960-Criticisrn and interpretation. 2. Authenticity (Philosophy) in literature. 3. Absurd (Philosophy) in literature. 4. Metaphysics in literature. I. Tide. PQ2605.A3734Z72134 1992 848'.9 I 409-dc20 92-12753
CIP
For material from Tht Myth oJ Sisyphus afld Othtr Essays, by Albert Camus, trans. J. O'Brien, copyright © 1955 by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
For material from Nottbooks, 1935-1942 by Albert Camus, trans. P. Thody, copyright © 1963 by Hamish Hamilton Ltd. and Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
Herbert R. Lottman for material from Albtrt Caml/s: A Biography, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1979.
Elaine Greene Ltd., London, for material from Conor Cruise O'Brien's Caml/s, Fontana Books, 1970. Copyright © 1970 by Conor Cruise O'Brien.
Harper Collins Publishers, London, for material frorn Conor Cruise O'Brien's Caml/S, Fontana Books, 1970.
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1 st edition 1992 978-0-312-07597-2
All rights reserved. For information, write: Scholarly & Reference Division, St. Martin's Press, Inc., 175 Fifth Avenue, NewYork, NY 10010 First published in the United States of Arnerica 1992
ISBN 978-1-349-60612-2 ISBN 978-1-137-07393-8 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-137-07393-8
library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data McBride, Joseph. Albert Camus : philosopher and litterateur / Joseph McBride.
p.cm. Inc1udes bibliographical references and index.
I. Ca mus, Albert, 191 3-1 960-Criticisrn and interpretation. 2. Authenticity (Philosophy) in literature. 3. Absurd (Philosophy) in literature. 4. Metaphysics in literature. I. Tide. PQ2605.A3734Z72134 1992 848'.9 I 409-dc20 92-12753
CIP
To My Mothtr To My Mother
CONTENTS
PREFACE . .... . .. . . . .. ... . . . x
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. xi
Chapter I Chapter II Chapter 111
PART 1: Tbc Absurd and irs Origins
The Absurd in the Early W orks . . . The Influence of Nietzsche .. .. . Saint Augustine: Tbc Placr 01 Happincss
PART 2: Authrnticity
. 3 15 25
Chapter IV Authenticity in the Early Works . . . . . . . 43 Chapter V Authenticity in the Philosophy of Nietzsche 57 Chapter VI Authenticity: An Evaluation . . . . . . . . 65
PART 3: (bristian Mrraphysics and Nroplatonism
Chapter VII Background and Themes . . . . . . Chapter VIII Mfraphysiqur chr(firnnr rt Nfoplatonismr
by Albert Camus . . . . . Chapter IX Bibliography of Dissertation . . . .
77
93 . 167
CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 175
NOTES AND REFERENCES 179
BIBUOGRAPHY .. .. . . . 207
SELECT INDEX OF NAMES 225
CONTENTS
PREFACE ........... .
INTRODUCTION ...... .
Chapter I Chapter II Chapter 111
PART t: Tht Absurd and its Origins
The Absurd in the Early W orks . . . The Influence of Nietzsche ..... Saint Augustine: Tht Plact of Happinm
PART 2: Authtnticity
. ..... x
... xi
. 3 15 25
Chapter IV Authenticity in the Early Works . . . . . . . 43 Chapter V Authenticity in the Philosophy of Nietzsche 57 Chapter VI Authenticity: An Evaluation . . . . . . . . 65
PART 3: Christian Mttaphysics and Ntoplatonism
Chapter VII Background and Themes . . . . . . Chapter VIII M(taphysiqut chrtlitnnt et N(oplatonisme
by Albert Camus . . . . . Chapter IX Bibliography of Dissertation . . . .
77
93 . 167
CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 175
NOTES AND REFERENCES 179
BIBUOGRAPHY . . . . . .. 207
SELECT INDEX OF NAMES 225
PREFACE
In the form which it final!y assurnes, a book of this kind is the end product of rnany years of work. While it goes without saying that the acadernic labours which produced it are those of its author, it is sornetirnes forgotten that a philosopher is, in at least one irnportant respect, just like other rnen in that he needs not only rnoney, but a great deal of advice and encouragernent as weIl. It is only proper, therefore, that the author of Albtrt Call1us: Philosoph" aKd Uttfrattur should say a word of thanks both to the executors of the Maynooth Travel Fund, who afforded hirn an opportunity to pursue aperiod of research at the University of Oxford in 1989, and to the College Executive Council of Saint Patrick's College, Maynooth, whose generosity helped to defray the expenses incurred in the production of this book.
The author wishes to acknowledge, in particular, his very great debt and considerable gratitude to an old friend, Father Jarnes McEvoy, professor of ancient and rnedieval philosophy at the Universite Catholique de Louvain, whose encouragernent and advice he has found invaluable over rnany years. He also wishes to thank Mr. Michael McBride and Dr. Brfd O'Doherty, who read his translation of Carnus' "Metaphysique chretienne et Neoplatonisrne," and Mrs. Ann Gleeson, who typed the final rnanuscript, and Dr. Michael O'Dwyer, who he1ped with the proof-reading. The author is deeply appreciative, too, of the help given hirn by the staff of the libraries of the Queen's University, Belfast, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, the Bodleian Library at Oxford and the Bibliotheque Nationale at Paris.
PREFACE
In the form which it final!y assurnes, a book of this kind is the end product of rnany years of work. While it goes without saying that the acadernic labours which produced it are those of its author, it is sornetirnes forgotten that a philosopher is, in at least one irnportant respect, just like other rnen in that he needs not only rnoney, but a great deal of advice and encouragernent as weIl. It is only proper, therefore, that the author of Albtrt Call1us: Philosoph" and Uttfrattur should say a word of thanks both to the executors of the Maynooth Travel Fund, who afforded hirn an opportunity to pursue aperiod of research at the University of Oxford in 1989, and to the College Executive Council of Saint Patrick's College, Maynooth, whose generosity helped to defray the expenses incurred in the production of this book.
The author wishes to acknowledge, in particular, his very great debt and considerable gratitude to an old friend, Father Jarnes McEvoy, professor of ancient and rnedieval philosophy at the Universite Catholique de Louvain, whose encouragernent and advice he has found invaluable over rnany years. He also wishes to thank Mr. Michael McBride and Dr. Brfd O'Doherty, who read his translation of Carnus' "Metaphysique chretienne et Neoplatonisrne," and Mrs. Ann Gleeson, who typed the final rnanuscript, and Dr. Michael O'Dwyer, who he1ped with the proof-reading. The author is deeply appreciative, too, of the help given hirn by the staff of the libraries of the Queen's University, Belfast, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, the Bodleian Library at Oxford and the Bibliotheque Nationale at Paris.
INTRODucnON
The serious, nonjournalistic work of Albert Camus, it is sometimes said, falls into three categories: literary, political and philosophical. This division is, however, a highly arbitrary one, for it is rarely possible to separate literature from philosophy in Camus: he hirnself said that anyone who wishes to philosophize should write noveIs and that all great novels are metaphysical ones. Many of his dramatic works also are of a basically philosophical nature. Moreover, Camus refused to separate politics from ethics, just as he refused to separate morals from metaphysics. It seems highly desirable, therefore, that the theme of this book and the works which are centrally relevant to it should be located within some more rational and adequate schema than the tri partite one just mentioned.
When Camus met his tragic death near Villeblevin, on 4 January 1960, he was carrying with hirn a black leather briefease. In it was a dossier, which, Camus' biographer teils us, was later found to contain (along with Friedrich Nietzsche's The loyJuI Wisdom and the French translation of Shakespeare's OtheIIo) Camus' own journal and the manuscript of Lt Premier Homme. A notebook entry, written between 17 and 25 June 1947, teils us that this last work was to constitute (along with "Lt lugemrnt," almost certainly the original title of La Chutt) the third of the five cydes of which his entire work was to have been composed. What this cyde of works, together with the fourth and fifth "series," would have brought we do not, of course, know in any degree of detail. We can say with certainty, however, that the second cyde deals with the theme of revolt, and that the works that are central to it are I..a Peste (1947) andL'Homme r{volt{(1951). We know too that the first "series" is about the absurd, the subject matter of L'Etranger (1942), Lt Mythe de Sisyphe (1942), Caligula (t 944) and u Malrntrndu (t 944).
The aim of this study is to present Camus' thinking on the absurd as it is expressed in u Mythe de Sisyphe and L'Etranger, and to trace the origins of this concept in the philosophies of Saint Augustine and Friedrich Nietzsehe. It also underlines the importance of Camus' diploma dissertation of 1936, "Metaphysique chretienne et Neoplatonisme" ("Hellenisme et Christianisme: Plotin et Saint Augustin"), for an understanding of the two works to which
INTRODucnON
The serious, nonjournalistic work of Albert Camus, it is sometimes said, falls into three categories: literary, political and philosophical. This division is, however, a highly arbitrary one, for it is rarely possible to separate literature from philosophy in Camus: he hirnself said that anyone who wishes to philosophize should write noveIs and that all great novels are metaphysical ones. Many of his dramatic works also are of a basically philosophical nature. Moreover, Camus refused to separate politics from ethics, just as he refused to separate morals from metaphysics. It seems highly desirable, therefore, that the theme of this book and the works which are centrally relevant to it should be located within some more rational and adequate schema than the tri partite one just mentioned.
When Camus met his tragic death near Villeblevin, on 4 January 1960, he was carrying with hirn a black leather briefease. In it was a dossier, which, Camus' biographer teils us, was later found to contain (along with Friedrich Nietzsche's Tbe loyJuI WisJom and the French translation of Shakespeare's OtheIIo) Camus' own journal and the manuscript of Lt Premier Homme. A notebook entry, written between 17 and 25 June 1947, teils us that this last work was to constitute (along with "Lt lugemrnt," almost certainly the original title of La Chute) the third of the five cydes of which his entire work was to have been composed. What this cyde of works, together with the fourth and fifth "series," would have brought we do not, of course, know in any degree of detail. We can say with certainty, however, that the second cyde deals with the theme of revolt, and that the works that are central to it are I..a Peste (1947) andL'Homme rfvoltf(1951). We know too that the first "series" is about the absurd, the subject matter of L'Etranger (1942), Lt Mythe Je Sisyphe (1942), Caligula (t 944) and Lc Malrntendu (t 944).
The aim of this study is to present Camus' thinking on the absurd as it is expressed in Lc Mythe Je Sisyphe and L'Etranger, and to trace the origins of this concept in the philosophies of Saint Augustine and Friedrich Nietzsehe. It also underlines the importance of Camus' diploma dissertation of 1936, "Metaphysique chretienne et Neoplatonisme" ("Hellenisme et Christianisme: Plotin et Saint Augustin"), for an understanding of the two works to which
xii ALBERT CAMUS: PHILOSOPHERAND L1TTERATEUR
we have referred. In so doing, Albert Camus: Philosopher and Litt(rateur wi 11 clearly reveal that the proper understanding of Camus' early work requires that it be read not merely as literature but as philosophy as weIl.
Camus' early philosophy, however, is not merely about the meaninglessness of human life; it is also about authentie human existence. Authentieity, after all, is demanded of /'homme absurde by the meaningless nature of his mortal condition. There is always, in Camus' mind, an intimate connection between the notion of absurdity and that of authenticity, the theme of /'exil and that of le royaume. Our study is also devoted to a critieal examination of this second concept, authenticity, as it is expressed in the two works to which we have referred.
Albert Camus: Philosopher and Litt(rateur is made up of three parts, each of whieh has three chapters. Part t is devoted to a presentation of the absurd in Le Mythe de Sisyphe and L'Etranger. Chapter tuncovers the double origin of the absurd in Nietzsche's atheism and Saint Augustine's concept of natural desire for God. Chapters 2 and 3 are devoted, in turn, to Nietzsche's rejection of Christianity and to Saint Augustine's thinking on "the place of happiness."
Part 2 of our study is devoted to an exposition and critieal appraisal of Camus' early thinking on authenticity. Chapter IV reveals a Promethean ethic, whieh is nihilistic and whieh has its origins in the moral philosophy of Nietzsche. The latter's existential ethie is explieatedin Chapter V. Chapter VI provides an evaluation of Camus' thinking on authenticity.
The third part of this book is devoted to Camus' "Metaphysique chretienne et Neoplatonisme," and to its intellectual setting, both of which are centrally relevant to the concerns of u Mythe de Sisyphe and L'Etranger. Camus, as we shall see, was preoccupied, even in his student days, with wh at Malraux called "the human condition," and with the nature of the "kingdom" that is available to man. Chapter VII charts the historical and intellectual background to Camus' dissertation and describes its main themes. An English translation of "Metaphysique chretienne et Neoplatonisme" is to be found in Chapter VIII. The final chapter contains the bibliography which Camus appended to his diploma thesis.
There is, of course, a great deal more to Camus' philosophy than that which is contained in Le Mythe de Sisyphe and L'Etranger. Our study is, therefore, a limited one. The former book is, however, Camus' first major philosophieal product, while L'Etranger is his most famous philosophico-literary work. Moreover, the themes of our study have not been chosen arbitrarily: they are, in fact, crucial for an understanding of Camus' early thought, and indeed for an adequate appreciation of many of his later intellectual preoccupations as weIl. I believe that by elucidating Camus' thought about authenticity and
xii ALBERT CAMUS: PHILOSOPHERAND L1TTERATEUR
we have referred. In so doing, Albert Camus: Philosopher and Litt(rateur wi 11 clearly reveal that the proper understanding of Camus' early work requires that it be read not merely as literature but as philosophy as weIl.
Camus' early philosophy, however, is not merely about the meaninglessness of human life; it is also about authentie human existence. Authentieity, after all, is demanded of /'homme absurde by the meaningless nature of his mortal condition. There is always, in Camus' mind, an intimate connection between the notion of absurdity and that of authenticity, the theme of /'exil and that of le royaume. Our study is also devoted to a critieal examination of this second concept, authenticity, as it is expressed in the two works to which we have referred.
Albert Camus: Philosopher and Litt(rateur is made up of three parts, each of whieh has three chapters. Part t is devoted to a presentation of the absurd in Le Mythe de Sisyphe and L'Etranger. Chapter tuncovers the double origin of the absurd in Nietzsche's atheism and Saint Augustine's concept of natural desire for God. Chapters 2 and 3 are devoted, in turn, to Nietzsche's rejection of Christianity and to Saint Augustine's thinking on "the place of happiness."
Part 2 of our study is devoted to an exposition and critieal appraisal of Camus' early thinking on authenticity. Chapter IV reveals a Promethean ethic, whieh is nihilistic and whieh has its origins in the moral philosophy of Nietzsche. The latter's existential ethie is explieatedin Chapter V. Chapter VI provides an evaluation of Camus' thinking on authenticity.
The third part of this book is devoted to Camus' "Metaphysique chretienne et Neoplatonisme," and to its intellectual setting, both of which are centrally relevant to the concerns of Le Mythe de Sisyphe and L'Etranger. Camus, as we shall see, was preoccupied, even in his student days, with wh at Malraux called "the human condition," and with the nature of the "kingdom" that is available to man. Chapter VII charts the historical and intellectual background to Camus' dissertation and describes its main themes. An English translation of "Metaphysique chretienne et Neoplatonisme" is to be found in Chapter VIII. The final chapter contains the bibliography which Camus appended to his diploma thesis.
There is, of course, a great deal more to Camus' philosophy than that which is contained in Le Mythe de Sisyphe and L'Etranger. Our study is, therefore, a limited one. The former book is, however, Camus' first major philosophieal product, while L'Etranger is his most famous philosophico-literary work. Moreover, the themes of our study have not been chosen arbitrarily: they are, in fact, crucial for an understanding of Camus' early thought, and indeed for an adequate appreciation of many of his later intellectual preoccupations as weIl. I believe that by elucidating Camus' thought about authenticity and
Introduction xiii
the absurd in the light of its origins, and by revealing the intimate relationship between literature and philosophy in Camus, I will have contributed to the voluminous output already available on this writer a work that is original and of some value.
Introduction xiii
the absurd in the light of its origins, and by revealing the intimate relationship between literature and philosophy in Camus, J will have contributed to the voluminous output already available on this writer a work that is original and of some value.
