The Stranger: Understanding the Mind of a School Shooter Through Camus’ Absurdism

25th February 2023

Hey guys, I know this is a sensitive manner, but we must know the difference between philosophy and politics. By continuing to read this article, I would assume you are a free moral agent with the capacity to separate subjective emotions from purely-philosophical ideas.

/Introduction

Today, we’re talking about a serious issue that’s been plaguing the US for years — school shootings. It’s a topic that hits close to home for a lot of us, and it’s time we start talking about it in a way that’s relatable and easy to understand.

So, let’s start with the basics. School shootings are a big freakin’ deal, and they happen way too often. It’s like every other day there’s news of another shooting, and it’s always the same story — a kid goes into a school with a gun and starts firing. It’s tragic, it’s senseless, and it’s gotta stop.

Enter Albert Camus and his philosophy of absurdism. Now, I know what you’re thinking — “Philosophy? That’s some boring old-man stuff.” But hear me out — Camus’ absurdism can actually help us understand the twisted mindset of a school shooter.

/Absurdism, wth is that

So, what the heck is absurdism? In a nutshell, it’s the idea that the world is fundamentally meaningless and that humans are constantly searching for meaning in a world that has none. It’s like trying…