Rebel by Albert Camus (Penguin Classics)

Description

Rebel by Albert Camus is a philosophical essay on the nature of rebellion and revolution. Camus argues that rebellion is an innate human tendency, motivated by our desire for justice and freedom. He examines various forms of rebellion, from the individual’s refusal to conform to social norms to the collective uprisings that have led to revolutions throughout history.

Camus is critical of both the French Revolution and the Russian Revolution, which he sees as having betrayed their ideals by leading to the establishment of new forms of tyranny. He argues that the true rebel is not someone who seeks to impose a particular ideology on others, but rather someone who fights against all forms of oppression and injustice.

Camus also examines the relationship between rebellion and nihilism. He argues that nihilism is the danger that all rebellions face, as it is the temptation to give up on the possibility of truth and meaning altogether. Camus insists that the rebel must maintain a belief in the value of life, even in the face of absurdity.