Reading Nietzsche and Camus: A Guided Workbook in Nihilism, the Absurd, and Philosophical Self-Examination

Nietzsche and Camus are among the most widely quoted and least carefully read of modern philosophers. Extracts circulate on the internet stripped of their context; their ideas become cultural shorthand before anyone has engaged with the actual arguments. This workbook course provides a different experience: slow, structured, careful reading of key passages, supported by annotation scaffolding and reflection exercises that develop genuine philosophical understanding rather than superficial familiarity. By the end of this course you will be able to read passages from Nietzsche and Camus with comprehension and critical engagement, identify the specific philosophical moves being made in selected texts and evaluate their argumentative force, connect concepts from the primary texts to recognizable situations in your own experience and the broader culture, and write a short philosophical commentary on a passage using close reading techniques. What you will learn: - Close reading methodology: how to approach dense philosophical prose without losing the argument - The Gay Science section 125 (The Parable of the Madman): what Nietzsche actually argues about the death of God - Thus Spoke Zarathustra: working through the doctrine of eternal recurrence as philosophical thought experiment - On the Genealogy of Morality: ressentiment, master and slave morality, and the revaluation of values - The Myth of Sisyphus: the structure of Camus's argument from the absurd to revolt - The Stranger: reading Meursault as an embodiment of the Absurdist stance and its costs - Connecting primary texts to contemporary culture: where Nietzschean and Camusian ideas appear and are misapplied - Writing a philosophical commentary: moving from close reading to structured argument Each unit presents a passage of approximately 500-800 words from a primary text, accompanied by a structured reading guide that walks you through comprehension questions, philosophical analysis prompts, and personal connection exercises. After completing your guided reading, annotated worked examples demonstrate one rigorous approach to the same passage. Reflection prompts between units invite more personal engagement with the questions raised. A final unit provides a structured template for writing a short philosophical commentary essay. This course is written for readers who want to engage directly with Nietzsche and Camus rather than reading about them. It is suitable for those new to philosophical primary texts who have some general orientation to the ideas involved. No formal philosophy background is required, though the foundational course in this series provides helpful preparation.