French Literature Reviews - 2026
È. Morisi (ed.), Camus et l'éthique
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
Camus et l’éthique
Ève Morisi (ed.). Paris: Classiques Garnier, 2014.
ISBN-10: 281243242X; ISBN-13: 978-2812432422
226 p.
29 euros
Overview
"To live well, with and for others, within just institutions." This is how philosopher Paul Ricœur defines ethics. He contrasts ethics with morality, which—although etymologically pointing to the same subject matter, our customs—is instead shaped by obligations and prohibitions dictated by social norms. This volume takes Ricœur's concise, contrasting definition as its starting point to revisit the life and work of Albert Camus (1913–1960). It examines the reflections, fictions, actions, and aspirations born from the Nobel laureate's conscience. The "good life," an engaged relationship with the world, the other, and history, alongside desirable modes of sharing—these are the arduous pursuits so dear to Camus, whose relevance remains enduring.
Table of Contents
Albert Camus, Morality, and Ethics (Ève Morisi)
Views from Within: Camus's Ethics (An interview by Ève Morisi with Roger Grenier)
Part I. Confronting the Absurd
1. Camus and the Ethics of Chance (David H. Walker)
2. The Just and the True in The Stranger (Franck Planeille)
3. Camus's War: The Stranger and Letters to a German Friend (Colin Davis)
Part II. Forms of Revolt?
4. Doing Wrong and Doing Evil: The "Villains" in Camus (Marie-Sophie Doudet)
5. From the Absurd to Love: Camus's Ethical "Revolution" between Nietzsche and Scheler (Samantha Novello)
6. "Doing One's Job Well": Labor and Ethical Reflection in Camus (Guy Basset)
Part III. In Search of Measure
7. Aristotelian Ethics and Camusian Ethics: Thinking about Measure (Françoise Kleltz-Drapeau)
8. Ethics and Responsibility in Albert Camus and Albert Memmi: Convergences and Divergences (Hervé Sanson)
9. The Time of Capital Punishment: A Reading of Reflections on the Guillotine (Marc Crépon)
10. Camus's Oeuvre: An Ethical and Existential Mirror (Alexis Lager)
The distinction between ethics and morality has long been a central concern in philosophical inquiry, often framed by the tension between individual aspiration and social obligation. By utilizing Paul Ricœur’s definition of ethics as living well with and for others within just institutions, this volume situates the work of Albert Camus within a broader philosophical tradition. The contributors investigate how Camus navigated the complexities of human existence, balancing personal conscience against the demands of history and social structures. Readers interested in the intersection of existentialism and moral philosophy may find this collection relevant to their study of the author.
The essays gathered here examine aspects of Camus’s thought, from his confrontation with the absurd to his search for measure and responsibility. By analyzing his fictions, reflections, and actions, the volume addresses themes such as the nature of revolt, the ethics of labor, and the implications of capital punishment. The contributors engage with intellectual influences, including Nietzsche and Scheler, while also comparing Camus’s ethical framework with that of other thinkers like Albert Memmi. These discussions highlight the effort to define an ethical stance amidst the challenges of the twentieth century.
http://www.classiques-garnier.com/editions-tabmats/EvoMS01_tabmat.pdf