Siddharth Swaminathan

  

Volume 9 | Issue IV | December 2025

Homeschool ’26

Illinois, United States

  

My journey in philosophy began unexpectedly, in an English course where I read The Stranger by Albert Camus. Within the book is absurdism, the theory that while the universe lacks inherent meaning, humans still seek purpose—a conflict known as ‘the absurd’. I used this philosophy to tackle my own struggles with personal purpose, and since then, what began as literary analysis has transformed into a fascination with philosophy, leaving me with questions like, “What is reality?” or “What makes me Sid?” In my latest paper, I aimed to answer this latter question but applied it to a broader set of individuals. Though I initially knew little about the philosophy of personal identity, my research channeled my fascination into a pursuit of knowledge. During this process, I realized I had an opinion of my own, which, with months of research and extensive literature review, I formulated thoroughly. Then, I finally began writing for a month and spent many weeks revising. Looking back, I recognize my love for philosophy, writing, and research, and I hope to continue fostering it. Finally, I hope to use philosophy not only to deepen my own understanding but to foster curiosity in others—especially students like me, who may be wrestling with difficult questions. I work towards this goal with the Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization as a Student Advisory Council member. In my free time, you can find me writing poetry, reading Dostoevsky, or listening to music.