Continental Philosophy

Existentialism and Art

Literary Source:

• Camus, “Return to Tipasa”, in MS, pp.195-204

Primary Source:

• Tolstoy, What is Art? (Handout)

Background:

In “Return to Tipasa”, Camus recounts a story of affirming life over despair. This tale is particularly poignant since it implicitly refers to the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust. Given these horrific events, Camus wishes to still affirm life, realizing that if he does not, then the Nazi’s would still have gained a small victory.

In What is Art? Tolstoy provides a definition of art as a method of communicating a whole world or life. Tolstoy also believes that the message communicated is necessary moral and that art is the best means of communicating such information.

Questions:

• What is art according to Tolstoy?
• Do you think art is an effective way to communicate the “truths” of existentialism? Why?
• Could you write a “textbook” on these issues? Why or why not?

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