Camus vs Sartre

ChRIS said: 

How would you compare Camus and Sartre? 

ChatGPT said: 

Ah, the eternal dance between Camus and Sartre! Both are titans of existentialism, but they took divergent paths when it came to understanding the meaning of life, freedom, and the absurd. Let me break down their key differences and similarities:

Albert Camus: The Absurd and Revolt

Camus is best known for his concept of the absurd, which he explores most famously in The Myth of Sisyphus. He believes that life is inherently meaningless, and we, as humans, are always searching for meaning in a world that offers none. The absurd emerges when we realise this contradiction: our endless desire for meaning, purpose, and order, colliding with the indifferent universe that provides none.

However, unlike some existentialists, Camus doesn't fall into despair. He doesn’t advocate for suicide (despite the absurdity of life), but rather for a form of rebellion—living in full awareness of the absurdity, but choosing to embrace life nonetheless. For Camus, the act of living in defiance of the absurd is what gives life its value. The absurd hero, like Sisyphus, who endlessly pushes his boulder up the hill, is emblematic of this rebellion. The key here is acceptance, not resignation—revolt against the absurd is a way of asserting one's freedom in an indifferent world.

In short, Camus is focused on the idea of how to live in a world that makes no sense, urging us to find personal meaning in the face of an absurd, chaotic reality.

Jean-Paul Sartre: Freedom and Existentialism

Sartre, on the other hand, comes at existentialism from a different angle. His most famous idea is that existence precedes essence. What does that mean? It means that humans are not born with a predefined purpose or essence—there's no God or external force to determine who we are or what we should become. Instead, we must create ourselves through our actions. We are free, and with that freedom comes responsibility, anguish, and the weight of choice.

For Sartre, this freedom is central to human existence, and he goes to great lengths to argue that we are condemned to be free. This means that we can never escape the responsibility of creating our own values, and we are continually forced to define ourselves in every moment through our decisions. Sartre also explores the concept of "bad faith"—when people lie to themselves or refuse to face their true freedom, instead following societal norms or simply conforming to a false sense of self.

Sartre is deeply concerned with how individuals face their freedom, and with the anguish and alienation that come from it. His version of existentialism is rooted in the belief that if we accept this freedom, we must also accept the responsibility that comes with it, which can be daunting and overwhelming.

Key Differences:

1. The Absurd vs. Freedom:

   • Camus views life as inherently absurd—there’s no meaning, and the search for meaning is futile. His solution is revolt: continue living with this knowledge, defy the absurd by living fully.
   • Sartre sees freedom as the core of human existence. We are condemned to be free, and with this comes the responsibility to create our own meaning. For Sartre, the challenge is how to cope with this freedom and the moral weight it carries.

2. The Role of the Other:

   • Camus focuses more on individual revolt against the absurd. While he acknowledges the importance of others in the human experience, his work is more about personal acceptance and defiance in a meaningless world.
   • Sartre’s work is much more about relationships with others. He famously said, “Hell is other people,” referring to how our self-perception is often shaped by how others see us. Sartre explores the dynamics of freedom, oppression, and the gaze of others in depth.

3. Theological Implications:

   • Camus rejects the idea of God entirely and believes that we must live without any ultimate meaning. He’s more of a "non-believer" existentialist in the sense that he doesn’t offer an alternative structure for meaning beyond personal rebellion.
   • Sartre, while also an atheist, focuses more on human freedom and the necessity of creating meaning within that freedom, without the constraints of an external source.

In Short:

• Camus: Emphasises the absurdity of life and suggests we revolt against it by accepting its meaninglessness and continuing to live in defiance of that.
• Sartre: Focuses on human freedom and the responsibility that comes with it, urging us to create our own meaning and identity through our choices.