Albert Camus's Philosophy of Communication: Making Sense in an A ...

existential ethical choice. Albert Camus provides insight into how one can benefit from listening to relevant voices from previous generations; one must take the time to become familiar with those who sought answers to similar questions. For Camus, this meant discovering how others engaged an absurd historical moment. For readers today, this means listening to the voice of Albert Camus, for he represents a close historical perspective on how to make sense of a world that has radically changed since both World Wars of the twentieth century. This decision to rely upon thinkers of the past is an intentional choice and comes only through an investment of time and energy in the ideas of others. Camus also sought answers to his questions by engaging people and ideas, not by seeking an interpretive lens outside of human existence—such as in a religious framework. This focus does not invalidate the existence or acceptance of a religious worldview, but it should serve as a reminder that one can best understand life by embracing it and not by attempting to explain it away by focusing on something (such as an afterlife) beyond everyday existence. Finally, Camus’s personal experience helped him understand that there are times when support for certain ideas comes into conflict with particular relationships. The break with Sartre demonstrates one final way in which Camus was both a product of and a shaper of his own historical moment. Thus Albert Camus can be regarded as a philosopher of communication with deep ethical commitments. A better understanding of his work provides a glimpse into a way one can better navigate the tensions of living in the contemporary age of absurdity.