Existentialism

Are Caulfield of J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye and Meursault of Albert Camus’ The Stranger existential heroes? “The more the universe seems comprehensible, the more it also seems pointless.” Steven Weinberg An existentialist is one who acts freely and responsibly accepts the consequences of his actions, who lacks any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong, good or bad (Shaw 148-149).Webster’s defines the philosophy as being centered upon the …

…the universe, by displaying their responsibility for their actions and by rejecting all concepts of a supreme being or after-life. “If I were a tree among other trees…this life would have a meaning, or rather this problem would have none, for I would be a part of this world. I would be this world against which I set myself with my entire mind…. It is preposterous reason which sets me against all creation” (Sartre 110).