The woman had to fall? Jean-Baptiste Clamence and the literary infection by evil

Maciej Kałuża

doi:10.18778/1505-9057.59.05

Authors

Maciej Kałuża Dr, Pedagogical University of Cracow, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Social Philosophy Department, Podchorążych 2, 30-084 Cracow https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9654-7435

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1505-9057.59.05

Keywords:

evil, literature and philosophy, Camus, The Fall

Abstract

The article presents the concept of evil, as developed in the literary as well as philosophical works of Albert Camus. After a short, preliminary notice on the relationship between literature and evil, the article presents two spheres, in which the problem of evil was grasped by the author of The Rebel. In the main part of the article, the complexity of the problem of evil, as represented by Jean-Baptiste Clamence from The Fall is shown. It is seen as a development of the concept of evil from The Plague, with the potency to disseminate onto others. It is also perceived, as something resulting from severe trauma of the main character. In conclusion, I claim, that the problem of evil, as experienced by Clamence may be understood as a still relevant metaphor of contemporary culture, struggling with passivity against the rise of social evil.

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Author Biography

Maciej Kałuża, Dr, Pedagogical University of Cracow, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Social Philosophy Department, Podchorążych 2, 30-084 Cracow

Maciej Kałuża – dr, jest adiunktem w Zakładzie Filozofii Społecznej Uniwersytetu Pedagogicznego. W pracy naukowej interesuje go przede wszystkim problematyka śmierci, przemocy i myśl społeczna i etyczna w obrębie egzystencjalizmu francuskiego. Aktywnie uczestniczył w działaniach antyrasistowskiego i antyfaszystowskiego Stowarzyszenia „Nigdy Więcej”. Członek Société des Études camusiennes, założyciel Polskiego Stowarzyszenia Alberta Camusa. Aktualnie kształci się na CMUJ w zakresie wsparcia pacjenta chorego onkologicznie. Wydał dwie autorskie monografie na temat myśli Alberta Camusa, jest także redaktorem dwóch monografii z zakresu badań nad egzystencjalizmem.

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