Kevin Graeme wrote: > EX doesn't even place any particular importance on > humanity and any actions are simply futile but it can't hurt to do > good (though it doesn't particularly help either). >
I would disagree with this. And I think Camus would too. In classic major-religion teachings, the dominant theme is the doctrine of good works. And within the doctrine of good works, two prominent arguments are made why it should be followed. The most common is treasures in the after-life idea. The second is an idea which has quickly been loosing favor but still exists. The idea of doing good works because God the powerful commanded one to. Some great thinkers, both Christian and non-Christians, have argued that results without intent is often meaningless. This is a softer, and in my opinion, a much more logical approach then the classic idea that works without faith is meaningless. EX, as this is the great part, puts the responsibility to figure out what is good and bad. You don't do something because you are told it is good. Everything has meaning in itself and not because God told you to do it. So EX does place an importance on the humans ability to decide. Actions are only futile when compared in relationship for the ultimate meaning. They are not useless when taken for what they are. You do good works for the sake of doing good works. Because you know that is the right thing to do. This is a lot of faith to put into man after he saw man destroy half of Europe. At the same time Camus had to have known how rotten man's soul was. But he believed we should try. And that is what make us heroes. > I haven't read Fear and Trembling but based on your description of it > allowing the author to "fall back on the idea of God", I'm not sure if > it will be that approachable to me but I'll add it to my list. Fear and trembling, while still an EX text, is first and foremost a religious text. It is like a religious text, not because it argues to existence of God or preaches a way to live. It is a religious text like Plato's texts are. > -Kevin -- 2004 - The year $184M couldn't buy a pennant. Ron Artest: Extremely flawed, very accidental, semi-martyr ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Special thanks to the CF Community Suite Gold Sponsor - CFHosting.net http://www.cfhosting.net Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:140001 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
