Society constantly asks the timeless question: “Does my life matter?”.
No.
With only a cursory glance, it seems impossible to answer. To properly understand this question, it is first important to ascertain what “matter” means. Arguably, what matters is subjective to each person. There is no absolute definition and thus, value in itself is reliant upon the individual. It is an age old question, however, it has a multitude of different variables. Through the novel The Stranger, author Albert Camus writes with existentialist undertones to analyze the value of human life.
In accordance with the tenants of existentialism, Albert Camus puts forth a cogent argument in proposition of the fact that life is in fact out of our control. In truth, one’s
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In the novel, a majority of Meursault 's actions are based upon his attitude that his presence ultimately does not “matter”. “‘But,’ I reminded myself, ‘it’s common knowledge that life isn’t worth living, anyhow.’ And, on a wide view, I could see that it makes little difference whether one dies at the age of thirty or threescore and ten—since, in either case, other men and women will continue living, the world will go on as before,” (Camus 70-71). The aforestated quote captures the quintessence of Meursault’s character and illustrates the reason for his disinterest with the injustices around him. With purely factual considerations, it is true that each human life is proportionally negligible. Compared to the 7.4 billion people in the world, or the 250 billion stars in the sky, one life makes essentially no difference. No matter how altruistic the person, the probability that they will be remembered in 100 year, is slim to none. Thus, if no action will create any lasting impact, does my life really matter? As Linkin Park said, “Who cares if one more light goes out? In a sky of a million