PHENOMA practical book for schools 2019 PHENOMA practical book for schools 2019 | Page 69

A Philosophical Dossier on Happiness
CAMUS: Happiness is… a moral duty 20
Short biography
Albert Camus 21 (1913—1960) was a French-Algerian journalist, playwright, novelist,
philosophical essayist, and Nobel laureate. Though he was neither by advanced training nor
profession a philosopher, he nevertheless made important, forceful contributions to a wide
range of issues in moral philosophy in his novels, reviews, articles, essays, and
speeches—from terrorism and political violence to suicide and the death penalty. He is often
described as an existentialist writer. He wrote two book-length philosophical essays ​ The
Myth of Sisyphus​ and ​ The Rebel​ .
He said:​ ​ “ ​ Only it takes time to be happy. A lot of time. Happiness, too, is a long patience ​ .”
(​ Happy Death”, p.43 ​ )
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“I am learning that there is no superhuman happiness, no etemity beyond the cwe of the days. These derisory
yet essential things, these relative truths are the only ones that move me. “ ( ​ Nuptials, 1938​ )
“You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are
looking for the meaning of life.” ( ​ Youthful Writings , 1976​ )
“My dear,
In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.
In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.
In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.
I realized, through it all, that…
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s
something stronger – something better, pushing right back.”
“But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?”( ​ Lyrical and Critical
Essays”, p.101)
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For more details http://www.iep.utm.edu/camus/
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