Uploaded October 2022 | Updated September 2026, 31 minutes ago
Keep exploring at brilliant.org/freedominthought. Get started for free, and hurry—the first 200 people get 20% off an annual premium subscription.
WISDOM WEDNESDAY. Every week, you’ll get five powerful quotes from timeless thinkers (combined with some original insight): freedominthought.com/newsletter
ABOUT THE VIDEO
_
In this video, I talk about Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus, absurdism, philosophy, meaning, and happiness.
According to Albert Camus, if you search for meaning in this world, you’ll find nothing. Maybe someone close to you passes away, or your spouse has an affair, or you unexpectedly lose a limb in a car crash, and you find yourself asking, “why me, why now, and why this way?” And in return, the world gives you no reply. All of these events—all of these effects—have a cause. The world is a place of causes and effects after all. But there’s no reason, not one we can determine at least, behind these causes and effects. You’ll never find a clear “why” behind any tragedy. For Camus, the world is absurd. It’s just there and it couldn’t care less about us. The stars don’t shine with a purpose, the galaxies don’t move with a plan in mind, nor do the planets circle for any other reason besides the laws of physics. Camus calls this experience The Absurd: a feeling born from the contradiction between our desire to find meaning in this world and a silent world that has none to give.
And for many people, the feeling of absurdity is unbearable. They can’t imagine being happy without a meaning in life, so they find a way to escape The Absurd. And the most common form of escape is through the forced adoption of meaning. Whether it’s through a religion, philosophy, or politics, people find something to believe in and make that the meaning for their own lives. But for Camus, this makes no sense. The world has no meaning, so it’s absurd to derive one.
We don’t need a meaning to be happy in life, and in fact, a meaning often just gets in the way of happiness and freedom. It limits your action and dulls your mind. The discovery of meaning isn’t as important as the search for meaning. By continuing to search, you revolt against the gods. You turn your punishment into your reward, and by doing so, you overcome it. You become free to search for meaning wherever you like and experience the fullness of life, and by doing so, you become alive. The search is enough, or as Camus put it, “the struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”
OUR COURSES
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Coming soon. Sign up to my newsletter to be notified when they release.
OUR MERCH
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Coming soon. Sign up to my newsletter to be notified when they release.
OUR BOOKS
_
Follow No One comes out December 2022. Sign up to my newsletter to receive an e-mail when it comes out and read exclusive essays from the book: bit.ly/3mu7VGM
OUR FAVOURITE TOOLS
_
Shortform. The best non-fiction book summaries (unlimited access for 5 days and 20% off an annual subscription when you use my link): bit.ly/3bmSXwy
Adobe. The software I use to make my videos:
Epidemic Sound. Where I get my music: bit.ly/3FrStmh
RELATED VIDEOS
_
Practical Philosophy Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5faAYlGYYoF7rgKH4oo_B81n4wE1n2xP
CONNECT WITH US
_
Instagram: instagram.com/freedomintht
Twitter: twitter.com/freedomintht
CONNECT WITH ME
_
Instagram: instagram.com/justintht
Twitter: twitter.com/justintht
Personal Youtube: bit.ly/32rJ9QB
PODCAST
_
Freedom in Thought Podcast: bit.ly/3mS76YT
FURTHER READING
_
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
NOTES
_
(1) Videos are just my opinion, for entertainment and informational purposes. Just some things to think about—not advice.
(2) Some of the links in the description are affiliate links which I get a kickback from—at no extra cost to you.
Keep exploring at brilliant.org/freedominthought. Get started for free, and hurry—the first 200 people get 20% off an annual premium subscription.
WISDOM WEDNESDAY. Every week, you’ll get five powerful quotes from timeless thinkers (combined with some original insight): freedominthought.com/newsletter
ABOUT THE VIDEO
_
In this video, I talk about Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus, absurdism, philosophy, meaning, and happiness.
According to Albert Camus, if you search for meaning in this world, you’ll find nothing. Maybe someone close to you passes away, or your spouse has an affair, or you unexpectedly lose a limb in a car crash, and you find yourself asking, “why me, why now, and why this way?” And in return, the world gives you no reply. All of these events—all of these effects—have a cause. The world is a place of causes and effects after all. But there’s no reason, not one we can determine at least, behind these causes and effects. You’ll never find a clear “why” behind any tragedy. For Camus, the world is absurd. It’s just there and it couldn’t care less about us. The stars don’t shine with a purpose, the galaxies don’t move with a plan in mind, nor do the planets circle for any other reason besides the laws of physics. Camus calls this experience The Absurd: a feeling born from the contradiction between our desire to find meaning in this world and a silent world that has none to give.
And for many people, the feeling of absurdity is unbearable. They can’t imagine being happy without a meaning in life, so they find a way to escape The Absurd. And the most common form of escape is through the forced adoption of meaning. Whether it’s through a religion, philosophy, or politics, people find something to believe in and make that the meaning for their own lives. But for Camus, this makes no sense. The world has no meaning, so it’s absurd to derive one.
We don’t need a meaning to be happy in life, and in fact, a meaning often just gets in the way of happiness and freedom. It limits your action and dulls your mind. The discovery of meaning isn’t as important as the search for meaning. By continuing to search, you revolt against the gods. You turn your punishment into your reward, and by doing so, you overcome it. You become free to search for meaning wherever you like and experience the fullness of life, and by doing so, you become alive. The search is enough, or as Camus put it, “the struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”
OUR COURSES
_
Coming soon. Sign up to my newsletter to be notified when they release.
OUR MERCH
_
Coming soon. Sign up to my newsletter to be notified when they release.
OUR BOOKS
_
Follow No One comes out December 2022. Sign up to my newsletter to receive an e-mail when it comes out and read exclusive essays from the book: bit.ly/3mu7VGM
OUR FAVOURITE TOOLS
_
Shortform. The best non-fiction book summaries (unlimited access for 5 days and 20% off an annual subscription when you use my link): bit.ly/3bmSXwy
Adobe. The software I use to make my videos:
Epidemic Sound. Where I get my music: bit.ly/3FrStmh
RELATED VIDEOS
_
Practical Philosophy Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5faAYlGYYoF7rgKH4oo_B81n4wE1n2xP
CONNECT WITH US
_
Instagram: instagram.com/freedomintht
Twitter: twitter.com/freedomintht
CONNECT WITH ME
_
Instagram: instagram.com/justintht
Twitter: twitter.com/justintht
Personal Youtube: bit.ly/32rJ9QB
PODCAST
_
Freedom in Thought Podcast: bit.ly/3mS76YT
FURTHER READING
_
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
NOTES
_
(1) Videos are just my opinion, for entertainment and informational purposes. Just some things to think about—not advice.
(2) Some of the links in the description are affiliate links which I get a kickback from—at no extra cost to you.
