Philosophical perspectives on the meaning of life and resilience

Philosophical inquiries into the meaning of existence are highlighted through the works of Albert Camus and Friedrich Nietzsche.

Albert Camus explores the concept of the absurd in ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’, defining it as the conflict between the human need for meaning and the silent, unresponsive universe. Camus rejects suicide as a solution to the absurd, arguing that it merely eliminates the individual experiencing the tension. Instead, he proposes living with lucidity and embracing life without the need for transcendent justification, suggesting that Sisyphus can be imagined happy through his conscious rebellion against his repetitive fate.

Friedrich Nietzsche addresses the capacity to endure hardship through the presence of purpose. His concept suggests that an individual who possesses a ‘why’—a deep reason such as a project, relationship, or value—can withstand almost any ‘how’, or concrete obstacle. This idea, found in his 1889 work ‘Twilight of the Idols’, serves as a psychological anchor for navigating uncertainty and chaos.