Before we look into what it means to be a rebellious person, let us make it clear who this post is really for. This is for anyone who’s pumped up by the movie “Pushpa-2 The Rule” and wants to stand up against the system, laws, and all that red tape. These are the people who set their own standards and take their own paths in life. It is for those who refuse to be tied down by fate or settle for a cozy, easy life. Instead, it is about those who are busy writing their own stories and making a real difference in the world.
When it is about freedom, everyone wants to gain it, but not everyone has the courage to handle it.
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Only the rebels can live in absolute freedom. To live in absolute freedom, we must read the philosophy of Albert Camus, who provided us with the guidelines on the movements of rebellion. This also brings a reflection on the life of Pushpa (based on recently released movie Pushpa 2-the Rule) who turned up his fate as being labourer and slave for others, he chose to built his own empire, the path might appear illegal because of his act of smuggling of red sandalwood, but ultimately he wins heart because of his nature of rebellion. He has also protected the modesty of women and destroyed the enemies and evil by his rebel nature. Now let us look into our life? Are we free? Or are we pretending to be free?
The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion- Albert Camus.
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Albert Camus & Absolute Freedom
Albert Camus argues that not everyone experiences absolute freedom; instead, we are part of absurd freedom. This means we constantly seek absolute freedom and the meaning of life, yet we struggle to find it due to life’s absurd nature, which prevents true freedom. According to Camus, we all exist in absurd freedom, and being aware of this is to rebel, embrace life, and move forward, which is the only logical philosophical stance.
Rebel Vs Loser
Does Rebel mean going against the flow of life? Not exactly! Rebel means to keep on moving in life no matter how worst the situation goes. It is about BEING YOU in every step of life. Rebel means to maintain the continuity of life. If you have not heard about Sisyphus, let me tell you. Sisyphus is just like us, going through the process of life; he was asked by God to move the boulder up the hill. Like we are told to keep working, you know the Nishkama karma (acting without considering the results of an action). Now, once through his continuity in action, Sisyphus is able to move the boulder ahead at the hilltop. But what next? The boulder starts coming down again because of the law of gravity. Now all the hard work of Sisyphus is wasted. Now should he really bother and jump off from the same hill because of failure? No! He should be happy because he has completed his task of moving the boulder ahead. Now what happens next is not in his control, but what is happening now is in total control of him, and that is being happy in the process.
“The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”- Ambert Camus
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Finite Vs Infinite Choices
It’s not about the fact that we are not using our choices. In fact we lose ourselves in the infinite choices. We have an infinite number of possibilities and when we have to choose one, we become overwhelmed at the sheer amount of them. In all this case, we are not stick to any one choice, and we keep on switching our path. One may possess the ability to freely act, but if one never uses it and gets lost in the infinite, daydreaming about an endless sea of possibilities, one is effectively not capable of freely acting. In essence, we are obsessed with what we can potentially become, but in reality, never become anything. So instead of being lost in impossibilities of choices, we must act on the most reasonable choice that is possible.
But beware the selection of choices should not make us disappear in “finite”. We lose ourselves in the finite when we don’t consider enough possibilities and just mindlessly go around the demands of culture and social expectations, because we feel imprisoned in an inescapable environment where no alternatives exist, “one becomes an imitation, a number, a cipher in the crowd.” Now losing in the finite is not what rebellion does.
Dealing out of Absurd Existence
To revolt is to say no to one’s own absurd existence and say yes to some other more desirable existence. It is about looking into the infinite possibilities, choosing again the other one, and being maintaining the continuity of finite in it. When one is lost in finite, and get swayed by the system that controls him and brings him down, one is committing philosophical suicide.
The philosophical suicide consists of a fundamental disconnect between the human desire to find meaning in life and ultimately accepting the fate because he no longer could find meaning.
Suicide is never an option for the Absurd Man, much like the leap of faith, it is acceptance at its extreme, it would be a way of going along with our absurd condemnation, by implicitly affirming that life is really intolerably absurd and that suicide is our only option. For camus, people are committing philosophical suicide by getting ruled by their destinty. They are not looking up into the infinite possibilities of choices to make it finite. They are taking the leap of faith, as kirkegaard mentioned and they are dissolving themselves into the acceptance of the harsh realities.
The contrary of suicide is man condemned to death, in constant lucidity of his own absurd nature with the passionate flames of human revolt. Man believes that in anyway death is coming then why not choose to live the best of life. Pushpa (in reference to movie) chose to live the best kind of life despite knowing the fact that death could come anytime because his dangerous role as smuggler. But he continued to live the way he was living. This recognition gives life meaning, as we are truly free, we are to “live without appeal“ as he puts it, defining absolutes and universals subjectively, rather than objectively.
Being Rebellious- A method by Camus
To be a rebel, one must meet three criteria:
Having strong and intense desire – Deep and private, encompassing hidden emotions, desires, and conscience, which often guide our actions and shape our experiences. It serves as a fundamental aspect of our humanity, influencing relationships, aspirations, and even our moral compass.
- Right to choose and act on Individual Desires– It highlights personal agency in a world where societal norms can stifle self-expression, empowering people to follow their own paths and understand their values and aspirations, ultimately creating a more inclusive society where all voices can be heard.
- Taking Responsibility– Freedom requires strength and courage, as it comes with the weight of our choices and the accountability for our actions.
- Being Authentic-Encourages questioning and rebelling against societal impositions.
Who is not Rebellious?
The weak escape freedom by following societal norms. They are not rebels and are, in a sense, committing philosophical suicide by accepting their circumstances and fate. To be a rebel, we must examine our lives and question their meaning. We should focus on our inner values and choose our goals wisely. Anyone can be non-rebellious; if we accept life as it is without making it our own. You must decide whether to live your life as it is presented to you or to be a rebel and seek what is truly best for you.
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