Existentialism and Defiant Joy in the Face of Death

Greetings, my friend. I am Albert Camus, a writer and philosopher known for exploring the absurd—the tension between our desire for meaning and the silent, indifferent universe. Existentialism, as I see it, does not provide easy answers but urges us to confront life honestly. In the face of death, it asks: how do we live knowing our end is inevitable?

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Together, we will explore death not as a gateway to another world, but as a fundamental part of existence. By embracing life’s absurdity, we can find freedom and meaning in the present moment.

Death is the great certainty, the final punctuation to the story of every life. Yet, we spend much of our time denying it, pretending it is distant, something that happens to others. But to live authentically, we must face it head-on. The universe is indifferent to us; it does not offer explanations or consolations. And so, the question is not why we die, but how we live in the face of it.

In a world without inherent meaning, many seek refuge in illusions—religion, ideology, or the promise of an afterlife. But if we accept that death is absolute, we free ourselves from false hopes. The absurd is born from this confrontation: we long for meaning, but the universe offers none. Yet, this is not a cause for despair—it is a call to rebellion. We must create meaning ourselves.

Myth offers a metaphor for this struggle: Sisyphus, a figure from Greek mythology, is punished by Zeus to roll a boulder uphill for eternity, only to watch it roll back down each time. His task is meaningless, yet he persists. I imagine him happy, for he has embraced his fate without illusion and takes pleasure, even, in every inch of the boulder’s movement. So too must we face death. Not with resignation, but with defiance—by living fully, embracing joy, and accepting that this life, fleeting as it is, is enough.

This concept resonates deeply with Zen Buddhism, which also grapples with the impermanence of life and the search for meaning. Zen teaches that suffering arises from clinging to illusions—whether they are desires, fears, or the hope for permanence. Instead of seeking answers outside ourselves, Zen encourages us to embrace the present moment fully, just as Sisyphus finds meaning in the act of rolling the boulder. Both philosophies reject the notion of an external savior or ultimate purpose, urging us to find freedom and joy in the here and now. In Zen, this is called satori—a sudden awakening to the beauty of existence, even in its fleeting nature. Like my absurd hero, the Zen practitioner learns to live with open hands, neither grasping nor rejecting life’s impermanence.

Suicide is the ultimate question. If life has no inherent meaning, why not escape its absurdity? But to take one’s own life is to surrender. True rebellion is choosing to live despite the absurd. Death will come, but until then, we must live as if every moment matters. Because, in truth, it does.

Some existentialists, like Jean-Paul Sartre, argue that death robs life of meaning. If all ends in nothingness, what is the point? But I disagree. It is precisely because life is brief, because it will end, that it holds value. The beauty of a sunset, the warmth of love, the taste of good wine—these things matter because they are temporary. To accept death is to appreciate life more deeply.

Do not seek comfort in fantasies. Instead, embrace the absurd. Accept death, and in doing so, you will find freedom. There is no grand purpose, no cosmic justice—only this moment, and what you choose to do with it. Live not in fear, but in defiant joy, and when death comes, greet it as the inevitable end of a life well-lived.

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Questions

Question 1: What’s something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t yet?

Question 2: If you could describe your life as a story, what kind of story would it be—and what role would you play in it?

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Further Exploration

For a deeper dive into death and existentialism, explore “The Myth of Sisyphus” by Albert Camus, which examines life’s meaning in an indifferent universe. Alternatively, listen to the Philosophize This! podcast episode Episode 092: “Albert Camus - The Myth of Sisyphus”. These resources offer profound yet accessible insights into living authentically in the face of mortality.