Albert Camus: Humanism and Hope

• Week 1: Introduction to Camus and humanism
  Born in colonial Algiers in 1913, Camus lost his father in the First World War. He was raised in poverty by a single mother and developed humanist views about morality and human dignity. He sought refuge in nature, education and in writing. We’ll discuss the global impact of Camus’s life and work.
• Week 2: Camus as journalist
  In 1940, Camus joined the French resistance to Nazi-occupied France. He became the editor-in-chief of the underground journal Combat, from 1943-1947, advocating for individual responsibility and collectivity. We’ll read and talk about Camus’s writing and editorial role.
• Week 3: Camus as philosopher
  We will read Camus’s philosophical writing about absurdism, existence and meaning. His atheism was a result of what he saw as the social-colonial role of Christianity. The Rebel was inspired, however, by Camus's respect for philosopher-mystic and anarcho-syndicalist Simone Weil. We will discover relevant links to the 21st century.
• Week 4: Camus as novelist
  We will read excerpts from Camus’s novels at the apex of philosophy, politics and literature, such as The Stranger (L ’Étranger), The Plague (La Peste) and his 1957 Nobel Prize-winning novel The Fall (La Chute). We will compare novelists Camus and Orwell, who were resistance contemporaries. We will share insightful links to our lives.
• Week 5: Camus as playwright
  Camus found comfort and refuge in the theatre world, including a relationship with Maria Casarez, a French-Spanish actress who played in Camus’s The Misunderstanding. Their love letters span 12 years until his tragic death by car accident in 1960. We’ll discuss Camus’s plays and share meaningful ideas about the socio-political role of theatre in society.
• Week 6: Reflections on Camus and humanism
  Our final session will focus on further readings and reflections on the impact of Camus’s life and work. We will reflect on meaning, hope and humanism. We will share forms of creative expression such as meaningful writing, poems, photography, art and artifacts.

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Define and interpret Albert Camus’s life and philosophy
• Trace the evolution of Camus’s ideas on humanism and hope with reference to fields of philosophy, literature, psychology, theology and social justice
• Describe the socio-political and historical significance of Camus’s contribution to our post-Second World War awareness of social and humanitarian concerns
• Consider how technology and media influences have affected our world views
• Reflect on how the natural world may offer peaceful sanctuary for the life journey

• Lectures in a seminar format
• Participation in discussions
• Supplementary resources accessed through Canvas
• Sharing ideas and creative responses to the course material
• Reflective essay (applicable only to certificate students)

No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.