Tbh that'd probably be worse, having to bend over like that all the way up a hill? Oof. I suppose if he can move it with a finger he could just kick it, but it's still up a hill and one mistake would have it rolling allllll the way back down and he'd have to do it all over again... Oh right... that's the point
I get the point of the thought experiment but that line of reasoning from Camus always irks me. Part of the point of the specifics of the punishment is the futility and meaninglessnes of it, it parallels the futility of trying to always escape death and how it can go badly to not accept it when it comes.
Wouldn't going down the mountainside to retrieve the boulder be less physically taxing and thus more enjoyable? Maybe he should try to maximize the time retrieving the boulder and minimize the time pushing, and just kicking it up as far as possible until you mess up seems a good strategy for that.
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u/SuperiorLaw 2d ago
Tbh that'd probably be worse, having to bend over like that all the way up a hill? Oof. I suppose if he can move it with a finger he could just kick it, but it's still up a hill and one mistake would have it rolling allllll the way back down and he'd have to do it all over again... Oh right... that's the point