Absurdism

Camus's philosophical response to the absurd — the conflict between the human desire for meaning and the universe's silence — rejecting both suicide and philosophical 'leap' in favor of revolt, freedom, and passion.

The absurd: the collision between the human need for clarity and meaning and the world's 'unreasonable silence.' Against suicide (physical or philosophical): suicide 'solves' the absurd by eliminating the human side; the philosophical leap (Kierkegaard, Sartre) solves it by positing transcendent meaning — Camus calls this 'philosophical suicide.' The absurdist reply: revolt (refusing to accept), freedom (the absence of hope is freedom), and passion (living more, not less). 'One must imagine Sisyphus happy' — the absurd hero who pushes his rock knowing it will roll back.