Albert Camus's Philosophy of Communication: Making Sense in an Age of Absurdity

195 Pages·2011·0.732 MB·English

by  Brent C. Sleasman

Albert Camusıs
Philosophy of Communication

Albert Camusıs
Philosophy of Communication
MAKING SENSE IN AN AGE OF ABSURDITY
Brent C. Sleasman
Copyright 2011 Brent C. Sleasman
All rights reserved.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sleasman, Brent C.
Albert Camus’s philosophy of communication : making sense in an age of
absurdity / Brent C. Sleasman.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 978-1-60497-791-2
1. Camus, Albert, 1913–1960—Philosophy. 2. Camus, Albert,
1913–1960—Ethics. I. Title.

PQ2605.A3734Z73623 2012
848’.91409—dc23

2011045926
Dedicated to Z, D, and E.
You are constant reminders that the absurdity of
this life will lead us to unknown destinations

T C
ABLE OF ONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: Meeting Absurdity: Albert Camus
and the Communication Ethics
of the Everyday 1
Chapter 1: The Fall: A Communicative
Risk in an Age of Absurdity 17
Chapter 2: Embedded Rebellion:
An Ethical Response in an Age of Absurdity 37
Chapter 3: Dialogue: Ethical Engagement
in an Age of Absurdity 75
Chapter 4: The Public Sphere: Navigating
Opposing Agendas in an Age of Absurdity 113
Chapter 5: Responsibility in an Age of Absurdity 135
Conclusion: Hope in the Midst of Absurdity 159
References 167
Index 179

A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
It is impossible to thank everyone who has contributed to the ideas
revealed in the following pages. Among those who deserve special men-
tion are Paul Richardson and the Cambria Press staff, as well as my col-
leagues in the Department of Theatre, Communication and Fine Arts at
Gannon University. I appreciate their support and their encouragement
to complete this book.
At the risk of overlooking someone, I do wish to express my thanks
to a special few who have contributed their own energy to this proj-
ect. First, I wish to thank the faculty in the Department of Communica-
tion and Rhetorical Studies at Duquesne University. I fi rst encountered
the work of Albert Camus as a graduate teaching assistant in Ronald C.
Arnett’s undergraduate Communication Ethics course. Little did I know
at the time that The Stranger would partly guide the next ten years of my
professional life. Second, I wish to thank Annette Holba for her feedback
on a much earlier draft of this project. In addition to providing a content-
based friendship, her work on philosophical leisure has infl uenced my
own academic development. Third, I wish to thank Eric Grabowsky for