Deck 52: Meaning in Life Susan Wolf

Question 1

In setting out to define the meaningful life, Wolf considers

A) what makes a life morally good.
B) what makes a life aesthetically good.
C) paradigm cases of meaningful and meaningless lives.
D) paradigm cases of moral and immoral actions.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Wolf's definition of a meaningful life is that it requires

A) great moral or intellectual accomplishment.
B) active engagement in projects of worth.
C) stress, danger, and exertion.
D) a commitment to objective value.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Wolf's requirement of "active engagement" means doing something

A) fun and pleasant.
B) in which you are passionately involved.
C) you think is worthy and valuable.
D) morally good.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The opposite of active engagement is

A) doing something frivolous or silly.
B) doing something morally wrong.
C) doing something no one else respects.
D) doing something boring.

Question 5

Why does Wolf think that enjoyment alone is not enough to make a life meaningful?

A) Some people have enjoyable lives but still feel their lives are too shallow.
B) It is impossible to be actively engaged unless there is an element of stress or danger.
C) Enjoyment is selfish, and a meaningful life requires regard for others.
D) It is impossible to be actively engaged unless you are doing something morally good.

Question 6

Wolf's requirement of "projects of worth" is

A) doing projects that are objectively worthwhile or valuable.
B) doing projects that are worth a lot to you, even if not to others.
C) doing projects that earn money.
D) doing projects about which you are excited and passionate.

Question 7

Besides active engagement, Wolf's second requirement is

A) moral and intellectual accomplishment.
B) stress, danger, or exertion.
C) boredom or alienation.
D) projects of worth.

Question 8

According to Wolf, the active engagement criterion alone is not enough for a meaningful life, because you can be actively engaged in

A) activities that don't have moral value, like mountain climbing.
B) activities that you don't really choose, like a drug addiction.
C) activities that don't add meaning to your life, like a video game.
D) activities that aren't self-improving, like taking naps.

Question 9

"Categorical desires"

A) tend to give meaning to life.
B) provide great pleasure when fulfilled.
C) preclude having frivolous desires.
D) None of the above

Question 10

Wolf asserts that the idea of meaningfulness is conceptually linked to an idea of

A) subjective attachment.
B) objective value.
C) cultural norms.
D) social conventions.

Question 11

Wolf claims that a thoroughly pleasant life cannot be a meaningful life.

Question 12

In considering what makes a life meaningful, Wolf thought about the questions people ask themselves when contemplating the deaths of loved ones.

Question 13

Wolf argues that to live a meaningful life, one must be actively engaged in projects that one is passionate about.

Question 14

Wolf develops a theory of objective value to support her account of meaningfulness.

Question 15

According to Wolf, the opposite of active engagement is boredom.

Question 16

According to Wolf, a meaningful life involves projects of objective worth.

Question 17

A subjectively enjoyable life may not always be a meaningful life.

Question 18

Categorical desires supply reasons for living.

Question 19

Any activity that you enjoy can be a "project of worth" according to Wolf.

Question 20

According to Wolf, active engagement is, in and of itself, a source of pleasure.

Question 21

How might one go about defining "projects of worth"? What kinds of activity have objective value, regardless of whether you enjoy doing them?

Question 22

Do you agree with Wolf's two criteria for a meaningful life? If a life meets both criteria, is it a meaningful life? Can you imagine a life that you would consider meaningful even though it doesn't meet both of her criteria?

Question 23

Wolf writes: "Meaning arises when subjective attraction meets objective attractiveness." Explain how this slogan captures her view. How might Wolf respond to a critic who denies the requirement that one's projects be objectively valuable? Might one live a meaningful life playing computer games and solving crossword puzzles? Defend your answer.