What Was Ivan Karamazov’s Mistake All About? Albert Camus on the Competence of Reason in Confrontation with the Irrational Cover Image

Na czym polegał błąd Iwana Karamazowa – Albert Camus o kompetencji rozumu wobec irracjonalnego
What Was Ivan Karamazov’s Mistake All About? Albert Camus on the Competence of Reason in Confrontation with the Irrational

Author(s): Urszula Lisowska
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Fundacja Pro Scientia Publica
Keywords: absurd; reason/intellect; irrationality; solidarity; rebellion; meas

Summary/Abstract: The study is concerned with the problem of the capability of reason when confronted with the irrational, as presented in Albert Camus’ philosophy. A question is posed about the validity of reasonable judgment in view of the incomprehensibility of the world. My analysis of A. Camus’ notion of absurdity reveals ethical and epistemological obligations inherent in the diagnosis of the absurdity of reality. The experience of rebellion (connected with the above mentioned category) is the basic aspect of an exclusively human feature, which Max Scheler described as the ability to “say no” (“»Nein« sagen”). In order to present A. Camus’ philosophy as a mature version of rationalism, and aware of its limitations, I take into account Camus’ refl ection on the opposite attitude, as it reveals itself in the ideas of Karl Jaspers. The analysis is based on A. Camus’ The Rebel. An Essay on Man in Revolt, selected essays from the collection The Myth of Oedipus and Other Essaysand selected excerpts from Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Brothers Karamozov.

  • Issue Year: 2012
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 13-20
  • Page Count: 8
  • Language: Polish