Albert Camus Thoughts At The Meridian

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Value – Thoughts at the Meridian So, if it is the case that rebellion is now where we find affirmation of values, yet the extremes of rebellion lead to the evils of murder, where does this leave us? Is there a solution? Camus illustrates this problem through the story of Prometheus, the man who steals fire from the gods and is thus punished. Draped in chains and pecked by ravenous birds. Prometheus, announcing hatred toward the gods and conversely love for mankind turns away from Zeus to mortal men so that he might lead them against the divine realm. But as men are love pleasure and immediate gratification, and are also trembling cowards, it is necessary to organise them and teach them to defer their gratification. Prometheus becomes the master …show more content…

If rebellion should turn to murder and destruction, then just as with Prometheus, it isolates you. Inherently rebellion should be at odds with murder. You must not kill the masters of old, in doing so you run contrary to the very considerations you originally set out with, you become the new masters. If the point is to ensure freedom, then you have failed your task in denying free sources of values through murder. Liberation via Limitation In order to truly guarantee freedom, it is key that the demand for it is not unbridled. It is necessary that one man’s freedom does not make infringement onto another’s. The most extreme form of freedom, the freedom to kill, is not compatible with the motives of rebellion. Rebellion is in no way the demand for total freedom…the object of its attack is exactly the unlimited power which authorises a superior to violate the forbidden frontier…freedom has its limits everywhere…the rebel demands undoubtedly a certain degree of freedom or himself; but in no case, if he is consistent, does he demand the right to destroy the existence and the freedom of others. He humiliates no one. (Camus, The Rebel,

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