Mitos antiguos en el pensamiento contemporáneo. Gnosis y rebelión metafísica en El Hombre Rebelde de Albert Camus: Gnosis y rebelión metafísica en El Hombre Rebelde de Albert Camus

Modern receptions of ancient Gnosticism tend to highlight Gnostic non-conformism, especially admiring the alleged gnostic freedom of mind and revolt against standard values and forms. Such an understanding of ancient Gnosticism presents Gnostics as anarchists avant-la-lettre, as rebels who romantically rejected the yoke of the world rulers and a life of alienation. Even if numerous readers will surely trace this analysis back to Hans Jonas’ Gnostic Religion, this conception of Gnosticism predates Jonas (1903-1993) and can be found in different authors of the twentieth century, most notably in the works of Albert Camus (1913-1960). Fascination for ancient Gnosticism accompanied Albert Camus throughout his life, but it is in The Rebel (1951) where the French philosopher gives ancient Gnosticism an important place in the history of human rebellion. This paper will delve into Camus’ work with a view to analyzing his view on Gnosticism, his understanding of the role it places in the history of western thought.