"The world is absurd" said Albert Camus in his book The Outsider. He proposed that our chances in life are beyond our control, although we do have freedom of choice.

 

He and other existentialists had been led to the conclusion, after 2000 years of  Western thought, that the concept of a supreme deity was probably untrue.

 

Existentialists agree that when we die we will most likely be forgotten, and our endeavours also forgotten. Camus argued that the simple things in life are our reason to live, and we should embrace life and live it all the more intensely because we know we shall die.

 

In 1946 Camus considered how long it would take before humans would be able to see the positives in life  and not dwell on their recent war experiences. It had affected almost the entire world and the trauma many carried from having been forced to do things so alien to their disposition would be felt for many years to come.

 

Nowadays the bullying and anger experienced by those on social networking and from religious fundamentalism, hark back to the trauma suffered in Camus’ lifetime. New laws of tolerance and pressure to be mindful of others attempt to add balance.

 

Ironically Camus died young at 47 when as a passenger in a  car driven by his publisher crashed, killing them both.  In his pocket was a train ticket he had purchased but chose instead to travel by car. In itself, absurd and, paradoxically, because of his achievements he is not forgotten.