DOCSLIB.ORG

Perspectives on Suffering in the Book of Job and the Popol Vuh

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Perspectives on Suffering in the Book of Job and the Popol Vuh ABSTRACT TEXTS OF PROTEST: PERSPECTIVES ON SUFFERING IN THE BOOK OF JOB AND THE POPOL VUH The following comparative study analyzes various responses to the problem of suffering in ancient Israel and pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica as represented in the biblical Hebrew book of Job and the colonial K’iche’ Maya Popol Vuh. Through the method of textual analysis, it identifies and explicates a number of distinct perspectives and examines the relationship between the experience of suffering and the creative project of meaning-making through the construction, deconstruction, and reconstruction of traditional narratives. In this context, it interprets myth as a hermeneutic for apprehending the meaning of suffering and proposes an understanding of literary composition as a means of reinterpreting and renegotiating mythic understandings of the past regarding the nature of the gods, the cosmos, and the human condition, including such inevitable features of existence as pain and mortality. The study applies Paul Ricoeur’s typology of the “myths of the beginning and the end of evil” in the Hebraic and Hellenic mythic traditions to the case of the Popol Vuh in an effort to develop the beginnings of an analogous understanding of the representations of suffering in Mesoamerican myth by determining points of correspondence to as well as divergence from this Ricoeurian typology. Finally, it interprets both texts as forms of protest against ideologies deemed oppressive by their respective authors. Thus, it examines how these authors are reacting to their respective cultural-historical contexts and generating meaning through narrative in response to historical experiences of acute suffering. Nicholas Jared Andrews May 2013 TEXTS OF PROTEST: PERSPECTIVES ON SUFFERING IN THE BOOK OF JOB AND THE POPOL VUH by Nicholas Jared Andrews A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in English in the College of Arts and Humanities California State University, Fresno May 2013 APPROVED For the Department of English: We, the undersigned, certify that the thesis of the following student meets the required standards of scholarship, format, and style of the university and the student's graduate degree program for the awarding of the master's degree. Nicholas Jared Andrews Thesis Author Steve Adisasmito-Smith (Chair) English Ruth Jenkins English Robert Maldonado Philosophy Keith Jordan Art and Design For the University Graduate Committee: Dean, Division of Graduate Studies AUTHORIZATION FOR REPRODUCTION OF MASTER’S THESIS I grant permission for the reproduction of this thesis in part or in its entirety without further authorization from me, on the condition that the person or agency requesting reproduction absorbs the cost and provides proper acknowledgment of authorship. X Permission to reproduce this thesis in part or in its entirety must be obtained from me. Signature of thesis author: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many thanks to all who have provided encouragement and support during the course of this endeavor, in particular my mother, my father, my beautiful girlfriend, close friends, and the following California State University, Fresno, faculty: Dr. Steve Adisasmito-Smith, Dr. Ruth Jenkins, Dr. Robert Maldonado, and Dr. Keith Jordan. I extend my sincerest gratitude to these professors for their dedication and integrity, for sharing their knowledge and passion with students such as myself, for encouragement and support throughout my academic career, and, perhaps most of all, for their friendship. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from these remarkable individuals, and I hope that I have managed to glean a bit of their knowledge during the time that I have spent in their classrooms and in their company. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION – DOLEO ERGO SUM: EVIL, SUFFERING, AND THE DESIRE FOR MEANING .................................. 1 The Problem of Evil .......................................................................................... 1 The Problem of Suffering ............................................................................... 12 Myth and Meaning .......................................................................................... 14 Methodology and Significance ....................................................................... 19 CHAPTER 2 – INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF JOB: BACKGROUND AND CULTURAL-HISTORICAL CONTEXT ............ 24 CHAPTER 3 – THE BOOK OF JOB: THE RETRIBUTIVE VIEW OF SUFFERING AND ITS REFUTATION .................................................... 54 The Prose Narrative Framework: Suffering as a Test of Faith ....................... 58 The Poetic Debate: Suffering as Divine Injustice ........................................... 64 The Theophany: The Cosmocentric Perspective and the Mystery of Suffering ............................................................................................... 84 Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 90 CHAPTER 4 – INTRODUCTION TO THE POPOL VUH: BACKGROUND AND CULTURAL-HISTORICAL CONTEXT ......................................... 94 CHAPTER 5 – THE POPOL VUH: RITUAL SACRIFICE AND THE REGENERATIVE VIEW OF SUFFERING ............................................ 118 The Creation: Suffering for a Greater Good ................................................. 119 The Fall of Vucub Caquix: The Return of the Retributive View ................. 126 The Defeat of the Death Lords: Suffering as Cosmic Conflict ..................... 129 Conclusions ................................................................................................... 135 CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION – THE BOOK OF JOB AND THE POPOL VUH: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ................................................... 137 The “Symbolism of Evil” .............................................................................. 137 “Evil” in Ancient Israel and Pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica ............................. 139 vi vi Page Theological Views ........................................................................................ 147 Anthropological Views ................................................................................. 153 Texts of Protest: A Departure and a Return .................................................. 156 The Problem of Suffering in Modern Thought ............................................. 159 Limitations and Suggestions for Further Study ............................................ 164 WORKS CITED AND CONSULTED ................................................................ 166 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION – DOLEO ERGO SUM: EVIL, SUFFERING, AND THE DESIRE FOR MEANING The Problem of Evil Throughout much of the history of “western” civilization, philosophical discourse regarding the experience of suffering has been dominated by a discursive formation that has come to be known as the “problem of evil,” an ongoing dialectic in the fields of Christian theology and the philosophy of religion. Due to the prominent influence of Christian thought among the ideologies of the West since the conversion of the Roman emperor Constantine (r. 306 – 337 CE), who made Christianity the official state religion of the Roman empire, this discourse has traditionally been conceptualized in terms of the metaphysical and theological claims of the Christian tradition, which considers God to be the summum bonum (“highest good”). As Joseph F. Kelly notes, “much of the difficulty about evil derives from monotheism, belief in one God, often a good and powerful deity who theoretically can stop evil but practically does not” (5). As Kelly here implies, evil presents no logical dilemma for traditional polytheistic belief systems, which account for the presence of evil by the existence of multiple divinities, each with their own distinct domain of activity. Furthermore, such polytheistic divinities are not typically held to be necessarily benevolent or absolutely powerful. As in the myths of the ancient Greeks, for example, human beings are often unfortunate pawns in the disputes of anthropomorphic gods who inflict suffering out of anger or jealousy. Monotheism, on the other hand, cannot account for the existence of evil by either divine plurality or impotence if it posits an omnipotent deity. Thus, in its logical form (as opposed to its evidential form), the problem of evil emerges from the acceptance of four propositions traditionally associated with the monotheistic “Abrahamic” religions: Judaism, Christianity, 2 2 and Islam. Therefore, it may be construed as a logical problem with four premises, though many variants omit the first premise, deeming it superfluous. These premises are as follows: (1) God is omniscient (all-knowing), (2) God is omnipotent (all-powerful), (3) God is omnibenevolent (all-good), and (4) Evil (or, more precisely, suffering) exists. As emphasized by J. L. Mackie, the above premises, if all accepted as viable truth claims, appear to present a logical contradiction, a point reiterated by numerous philosophers and theologians. The logic of this argument, in correspondence with the above premises, is roughly as follows: (1) If God is omniscient and evil exists, then it logically follows that he knows all things (past, present, and future), including every instance of evil or suffering that ever has occurred or ever will occur; (2) If God is omnipotent and evil exists, then it logically follows that he either causes evil or permits evil (as he does
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Jan Lendl Uy Sir Jay Flores Introduction to Philosophy of The
    Uy 1 Jan Lendl Uy Sir Jay Flores Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person 1 April 2018 Comparative Philosophical Analysis on Man’s Existential Purpose: Camus vs. Marcel The purpose of man’s existence has been a topic of study and debate ever since the dawn of philosophy during the time of ancient Greece. This topic is quite broad and complex as the purpose of man differs in perspective. Throughout the course of many eras, philosophers continuously sought for the true essence of human existence. As of today, there is still no definite answer to this as we, humans, remain divided by our own beliefs. This divide roots back from the varying views of philosophers who expressed their own interpretation of man’s existence, backed up by thorough research and lifelong studies. Among many views, there are two particular philosophical perspectives which are prominent for their contrasting qualities: existentialism and absurdism. Existentialism proposes that the individual has free will, which means he has the capacity to create his own purpose in life. According to Jones College, the existentialist view illustrates that humans are thinking beings who are capable of living in independence. We shape our own lives. The individual is free to choose what to believe in and is solely responsible for every decision and action made. Existentialism puts forward the idea that man is an independent being who has the freedom to make its own interpretation of the purpose of existence. Uy 2 Leonora Cohen, in explains that, in the existentialist view, the world does not have an inherent meaning (2).
    [Show full text]
  • Rereading Joseph Heller?S Catch-22 from the Viewpoint of Existential
    Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi The Journal of International Social Research Cilt: 10 Sayı: 49 Volume: 10 Issue: 49 Nisan 2017 April 2017 www.sosyalarastirmalar.com Issn: 1307-9581 REREADING JOSEPH HELLER’S CATCH-22 FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF EXISTENTIAL PHILOSOPHY AND CAMUS’ ABSURDISM Mehmet Recep TAŞ * Abstract Published in 1961, Joseph Heller's Catch-22 came into prominence among important American novels of the twentieth century. It coined a new expression that connotes the illogical, inconsistent and irrational situations. It deals with the absurdities and unsolvable paradoxical policies of the state’s policymaking groups that drive the individuals into a meaningless, absurdist worldview. It is likely as well to assert that Catch-22 is a novel, which reflects and promote an existential worldview. However, this worldview is closer to Sartre’s standpoint than that of Camus’. Considering the novel, the existential philosophy of Sartre (which suggests that we're able to basically invent meanings of our own) and Camus’ absurdism (which suggests that the search for meaning is in itself both absurd and determined to fail, so; we should embrace the absurd and find happiness in it), this article aims to underline the importance of adopting the existential philosophy of Sartre for the individuals to cope with the sense of nihilism when confronted with the absurdities of today’s world policy making groups. Keywords: Catch-22, Absurdism, Camus, Existentialism, Sartre. INTRODUCTION In order to understand and evaluate a novel written decades before the time in which we live, contrary to New Critics who focus merely on the form dismissing the historical back ground of the work and the experiences by which the author has created the work, it is essential to have a look on social, political issues and the zeitgeist of the period.
    [Show full text]
  • Visual Theologies in Graham Greene's 'Dark and Magical Heart
    Visual Theologies in Graham Greene’s ‘Dark and Magical Heart of Faith’ by Dorcas Wangui MA (Lancaster) BA (Lancaster) Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 2017 Wangui 1 Abstract Visual Theologies in Graham Greene’s ‘Dark and Magical Heart of Faith’ This study explores the ways in which Catholic images, statues, and icons haunt the fictional, spiritual wasteland of Greene’s writing, nicknamed ‘Greeneland’. It is also prompted by a real space, discovered by Greene during his 1938 trip to Mexico, which was subsequently fictionalised in The Power and the Glory (1940), and which he described as ‘a short cut to the dark and magical heart of faith’. This is a space in which modern notions of disenchantment meets a primal need for magic – or the miraculous – and where the presentation of concepts like ‘salvation’ are defamiliarised as savage processes that test humanity. This brutal nature of faith is reflected in the pagan aesthetics of Greeneland which focus on the macabre and heretical images of Christianity and how for Greene, these images magically transform the darkness of doubt into desperate redemption. As an amateur spy, playwright and screen writer Greene’s visual imagination was a strength to his work and this study will focus on how the visuality of Greene’s faith remains in dialogue with debates concerning the ‘liquidation of religion’ in society, as presented by Graham Ward. The thesis places Greene’s work in dialogue with other Catholic novelists and filmmakers, particularly in relation to their own visual-religious aesthetics, such as Martin Scorsese and David Lodge.
    [Show full text]
  • By Samuel Beckett Alumno
    UNIVERSIDAD DE JAÉN Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación Trabajo Fin de Grado DE LAS EDUCACIÓN LAS DE Theatre of the Absurd: “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett Alumno: Santiago Riaza Martínez Tutor: Juan Ráez Padilla Dpto: Filología Inglesa Febrero, 2016 FACULTAD DE HUMANIDADES Y CIENCIAS CIENCIAS Y HUMANIDADES DE FACULTAD E 0. Abstract In this essay, it is going to be analysed the enigmatic and eclectic play Waiting for ​ Godot by Samuel Beckett throughout a philosophical point of view. Some of these philosophies are related to existentialism, absurdism, hegelianism and religion. Besides, it is going to be explained the genre of this play: The Theatre of the Absurd, its historical background and the relationship between this play and contemporary cinema. The main purpose of this essay is giving some food for thought to its readers to face the problematic and mystery that surrounds this play. Keywords Absurdism, Samuel Beckett, Existentialism, Waiting for Godot, Theatre of the Absurd, Albert Camus, Religion, Drama, Cinema, Second War World, Esslin, Language, Postmodernism, Modernism, Ireland, Paris, Berlin, Jean Paul Sartre, Communication, Silence, Minimalism. 1 Contents Pages 0. Abstract and keywords 1 1. Introduction 3 2. Context 3­13 2.1. Biography 3­5 2.2. Literary Works 5­6 2.3. Historical context 6­7 2.4. The Theatre of the Absurd 7­8 2.5. Are the Theatre of the Absurd and the Existentialist Theatre the same genre? 8­9 2.6. The tradition of the Theatre of the Absurd 9­10 2.7. Is Waiting for Godot a modernist or a postmodernist play? 10­13 ​ ​ 3.
    [Show full text]
  • D. H. Lawrence and the Harlem Renaissance
    ‘You are white – yet a part of me’: D. H. Lawrence and the Harlem Renaissance A thesis submitted to The University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities 2019 Laura E. Ryan School of Arts, Languages and Cultures 2 Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................... 3 Declaration ................................................................................................................. 4 Copyright statement ................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... 6 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 7 Chapter 1: ‘[G]roping for a way out’: Claude McKay ................................................ 55 Chapter 2: Chaos in Short Fiction: Langston Hughes ............................................ 116 Chapter 3: The Broken Circle: Jean Toomer .......................................................... 171 Chapter 4: ‘Becoming [the superwoman] you are’: Zora Neale Hurston................. 223 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 267 Bibliography ........................................................................................................... 271 Word Count: 79940 3
    [Show full text]
  • Existentialism
    TOPIC FOR- SEM- III ( PHIL-CC 10) CONTEMPORARY WESTERN PHILOSOPHY BY- DR. VIJETA SINGH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR P.G. DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY PATNA UNIVERSITY Existentialism Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. This philosophical theory propounds that people are free agents who have control over their choices and actions. Existentialists believe that society should not restrict an individual's life or actions and that these restrictions inhibit free will and the development of that person's potential. History 1 Existentialism originated with the 19th Century philosopher Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, but they did not use the term (existentialism) in their work. In the 1940s and 1950s, French existentialists such as Jean- Paul Sartre , Albert Camus and Simone de Beauvoir wrote scholarly and fictional works that popularized existential themes, such as dread, boredom, alienation, the absurd, freedom, commitment and nothingness. The first existentialist philosopher who adopted the term as a self-description was Sartre. Existentialism as a distinct philosophical and literary movement belongs to the 19th and 20th centuries, but elements of existentialism can be found in the thought (and life) of Socrates, in the Bible, and in the work of many pre-modern philosophers and writers. Noted Existentialists: Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) Nationality Denmark Friedrich Nietzsche(1844-1900) Nationality Germany Paul Tillich(1886-1965) Nati…United States, Germany Martin Heidegger ( 1889-1976) Nati…Germany Simone de Beauvior(1908-1986) Nati…France Albert Camus (1913-1960) Nati….France Jean Paul Sartre (1905-1980) Nati….France 2 What does it mean to exist ? To have reason.
    [Show full text]
  • John Dennis on Absurdism
    John Dennis On Absurdism Faculty Sponsors Dr. Kas Saghaf & Dr. Amit Sen 53 54 Abstract This project will seek to broaden and elucidate Camus’ concept of the absurd as presented in The Myth of Sisyphus, with the thesis being that, as given, it is too abstract and cursory to adequately rest on the conclusions that Camus has made. This task will be conducted in three main sections. The frst will focus on the initial descent and transition into absurdity by analyzing the phenomena and psychology within Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. The second will focus on the nature of immediacy in absurd aesthetics and ethics, using Don Juan as the subject. The third will argue in defense of Sisyphus’ heroic status and elaborate more on the motions of revolt and happiness in a fate with little to no possibility. 55 Introduction Absurdism in Abstract Albert Camus begins his defnitive work, The Myth of Sisyphus, with these bold sentiments: “There is only one really serious philosophical question, and that is suicide. Deciding whether or not life is worth living is to answer the fundamental question in philosophy. All other questions follow from that” (Camus, p. 5). From this philosophical question arises the core subject of this project: philosophical absurdism. The basic formulation for absurdity provided in Sisyphus is when man’s natural insistence for meaning in life is confronted with an irrational universe that either has no answer or does not offer one. Predecessors of Camus had already tried to answer this dilemma, as Kierkegaard did with his “leap of faith” and phenomenologists like Husserl did in proposing that meaning could be established through phe- nomenological hermeneutics.
    [Show full text]
  • A Critique of Humoristic Absurdism
    A Critique of Humoristic Absurdism A Critique of Humoristic Absurdism Problematizing the legitimacy of a humoristic disposition toward the Absurd A Critique of Humoristic Absurdism Copyright © 2020 Thom Hamer Thom Hamer All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any way or by any means without the prior permission of the author or, when applicable, of the publishers of the scientific papers. Image on previous page: Yue Minjun (2003), Garbage Hill Student number: 3982815 Graphic design: Mirelle van Tulder Date: February 5th 2020 Printed by Ipskamp Printing Word count: 32,397 Institution: Utrecht University Contents Study: Research Master Philosophy Summary 9 Document: Final Thesis Foreword 10 Supervisor: prof. dr. Paul Ziche Introduction 12 Second Reader: dr. Hans van Stralen 1. The Philosophy of Humor 21 Third Reader: prof. dr. Mauro Bonazzi 1.1. A history of negligence and rejection 24 1.2. Important distinctions 33 1.3. Theories of humor 34 1.4. Defense of the Incongruity Theory 41 1.5. Relevance of relief and devaluation 52 1.6. Operational definition 54 2. The Notion of the Absurd 59 2.1. Camusian notion: meaninglessness 61 2.2. Tolstoyan notion: mortality 63 2.3. Nagelian notion: trivial commitments 67 2.4. Modified notion: dissolution of resolution 71 2.5. Justificatory guideline for a disposition toward the Absurd 78 3. Humoristic Absurdism 83 3.1. What is Humoristic Absurdism? 85 3.2. Cultural expressions of Humoristic Absurdism 87 3.3. Defense of Humoristic Absurdism 92 4. Objections against the humoristic disposition toward the Absurd 101 4.1.
    [Show full text]
  • Denying the Gods: the Religious Roots of Atheism RE230C-002
    Denying the Gods: The Religious Roots of Atheism RE230C-002 Instructor: W. Ezekiel Goggin Office: Ladd 210 Email: [email protected] Class Meetings: W/F 8:40-10:00 (Tisch 301) Office hours: WF 10:15-11:45am Course Description A historical and systematic investigation of the religious sources of ancient, modern, and contemporary atheisms. “New Atheists” such as Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and the late Christopher Hitchens are often invoked in contemporary discourse as intellectually authoritative voices for atheism. For these “New Atheists,” the difference between religion and unbelief is straightforward: rationality is superior to superstition, freedom should be valued over submission, critical inquiry should replace blind faith. However, the historical relationship of atheism to religion and religious belief is considerably more complex than such neat, binary oppositions allow. Far from being a contemporary phenomenon, atheism has religious roots as deep and ancient as the theism which it purports to reject. While “New Atheism” tends to be dismissive of religion and religious beliefs, many ancient and modern atheisms emerged from a willingness to take religion seriously on its own terms. Through comparative analysis of the appearance of atheism and antireligious thought within, between, and adjacent to several religious traditions (e.g., Ancient Greek religion Christian Mysticism, Hinduism, and Judaism), this course will contextualize and evaluate a range of atheistic positions. By the end of the course, we will see, it is perhaps better to speak about “atheisms” than “atheism.” Objectives In pursuit of these themes, students will achieve five major objectives: 1.) Think critically about atheisms within the hermeneutic frameworks of religious studies 2.) Gain familiarity with key theoretical and historical questions and figures in the history of atheism 3.) Develop an appreciation of the complex historical relationship between religions and the atheisms to which they give rise.
    [Show full text]
  • Post-Cold War Experimental Theatre of China: Staging Globalisation and Its Resistance
    Post-Cold War Experimental Theatre of China: Staging Globalisation and Its Resistance Zheyu Wei A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The School of Creative Arts The University of Dublin, Trinity College 2017 Declaration I declare that this thesis has not been submitted as an exercise for a degree at this or any other university and it is my own work. I agree to deposit this thesis in the University’s open access institutional repository or allow the library to do so on my behalf, subject to Irish Copyright Legislation and Trinity College Library Conditions of use and acknowledgement. ___________________ Zheyu Wei ii Summary This thesis is a study of Chinese experimental theatre from the year 1990 to the year 2014, to examine the involvement of Chinese theatre in the process of globalisation – the increasingly intensified relationship between places that are far away from one another but that are connected by the movement of flows on a global scale and the consciousness of the world as a whole. The central argument of this thesis is that Chinese post-Cold War experimental theatre has been greatly influenced by the trend of globalisation. This dissertation discusses the work of a number of representative figures in the “Little Theatre Movement” in mainland China since the 1980s, e.g. Lin Zhaohua, Meng Jinghui, Zhang Xian, etc., whose theatrical experiments have had a strong impact on the development of contemporary Chinese theatre, and inspired a younger generation of theatre practitioners. Through both close reading of literary and visual texts, and the inspection of secondary texts such as interviews and commentaries, an overview of performances mirroring the age-old Chinese culture’s struggle under the unprecedented modernising and globalising pressure in the post-Cold War period will be provided.
    [Show full text]
  • Albert Camus and Absurd Communication: from Undecidability to Übercommunication
    Albert Camus and Absurd Communication: From Undecidability to Übercommunication by Jorge Lizarzaburu B.A., USFQ, 2010 A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Colorado in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Communication 2012 This thesis entitled: Albert Camus and Absurd Communication: From Undecidability to Übercommunication written by Jorge M. Lizarzaburu has been approved for the Department of Communication Gerard Hauser Janice Peck Robert Craig Date 5/31/2012 The final copy of this thesis has been examined by the signatories, and we Find that both the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards Of scholarly work in the above mentioned discipline iii Lizarzaburu, Jorge M. (M.A., Communication, Department of Communication) Albert Camus and Absurd Communication: From Undecidability to Übercommunication Thesis directed by professor Gerard Hauser Communication conceived as understanding is a normative telos among scholars in the field. Absurdity, in the work of Albert Camus, can provide us with a framework to go beyond communication understood as a binary (understanding and misunderstanding) and propose a new conception of communication as absurd. That is, it is an impossible task, however necessary thus we need to embrace its absurdity and value the effort itself as much as the result. Before getting into Camus’ arguments I explain the work of Friedrich Nietzsche to understand the French philosopher in more detail. I describe eternal recurrence and Übermensch as two concepts that can be related to communication as absurd. Then I explain Camus’ notion of absurdity using a Nietzschean lens.
    [Show full text]
  • Albert Camus' Dialogue with Nietzsche and Dostoevsky Sean Derek Illing Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, [email protected]
    Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2014 Between nihilism and transcendence : Albert Camus' dialogue with Nietzsche and Dostoevsky Sean Derek Illing Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations Part of the Political Science Commons Recommended Citation Illing, Sean Derek, "Between nihilism and transcendence : Albert Camus' dialogue with Nietzsche and Dostoevsky" (2014). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 1393. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/1393 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please [email protected]. BETWEEN NIHILISM AND TRANSCENDENCE: ALBERT CAMUS’ DIALOGUE WITH NIETZSCHE AND DOSTOEVSKY A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Political Science by Sean D. Illing B.A., Louisiana State University, 2007 M.A., University of West Florida, 2009 May 2014 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation is the product of many supportive individuals. I am especially grateful for Dr. Cecil Eubank’s guidance. As a teacher, one can do no better than Professor Eubanks. Although his Socratic glare can be terrifying, there is always love and wisdom in his instruction. It is no exaggeration to say that this work would not exist without his support. At every step, he helped me along as I struggled to articulate my thoughts.
    [Show full text]