Question 1

R. M. Hare has argued that the response to the question of whether life has meaning is mistaken.

Accepted Answer

The answer of R. M. Hare has argued that the...

Question 2

For Kierkegaard, the commitment to the ethical stage of life involves
A) a "leap of faith".
B) restraining one's desire for pleasure.
C) embracing pleasure as the meaning of life.
D) embracing the fear as the meaning of life.

Accepted Answer

Kierkegaard believed that the ethical stage of life involves restraining one's desire for pleasure in order to follow moral principles and live a virtuous life. He did not advocate for embracing pleasure or fear as the meaning of life, and while he did talk about the importance of faith, he did not consider it a necessary component of the ethical stage.

Question 3

Marx held that progress was
A) Illusory
B) Necessary
C) Economic
D) Social

Accepted Answer

Marx believed that progress was ultimately driven by economic factors, specifically the development of productive forces and the struggle between classes over the distribution of wealth.

Question 4

Hegel called the modern nations the nations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Hegel called the modern nations the nations....

Question 5

Aquinas' view can be called the response to the question of meaning.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Aquinas' view can be called the response...

Question 6

For Kierkegaard, the meaning of life is
A) subjective.
B) meaningless.
C) objective.
D) found in studying art.

Accepted Answer

Kierkegaard believed the meaning of life is subjective and unique to each individual, and cannot be found through objective means such as studying art or following a set of universal principles.

Question 7

Who said, "So the ultimate purpose of human beings is to know God"?
A) Leo Tolstoy
B) Thomas Aquinas
C) Albert Camus
D) Georg W. F. Hegel

Accepted Answer

The statement "So the ultimate purpose of human beings is to know God" is in line with the theological beliefs of Thomas Aquinas, a prominent philosopher and theologian in the Catholic Church. Aquinas believed that the ultimate goal of human life was union with God, and that knowledge of God was necessary for achieving this goal.

Question 8

Nihilism is the claim that
A) the meaning of life can be found in a relationship to God.
B) life has no meaning.
C) pleasure is the only thing that gives life meaning.
D) the meaning of life can be found in different ways for different people.

Accepted Answer

Nihilism posits that life has no inherent meaning or purpose. This view can be seen as a rejection of traditional religious or philosophical beliefs that suggest that life has an ultimate goal or destiny. Some nihilists may argue that individuals are free to create their own meaning or purpose, but this is not a necessary component of nihilism.

Question 9

Sartre was
A) A theist
B) An agnostic
C) An atheist
D) A monotheist

Accepted Answer

Sartre was a well-known atheist and existentialist philosopher who rejected traditional notions of God and religion. He believed that humans are responsible for creating their own meaning and purpose in life, rather than relying on external sources such as religious doctrines or divine guidance.

Question 10

In this chapter, which of the following philosophers argues that nothing can give life meaning unless we choose it and make it our own?
A) Jean-Paul Sartre
B) Oswald Spengler
C) Arthur Schopenhauer
D) R. M. Hare

Accepted Answer

Jean-Paul Sartre is known for his existentialist philosophy, which asserts that life has no inherent meaning or purpose. According to Sartre, individuals are free to create their own meaning through their choices and actions. Therefore, he argues that nothing can give life meaning unless we choose it and make it our own.

Question 11

In this chapter, which of the following philosophers argued that the nihilist response is mistaken?
A) R. M. Hare
B) Karl Marx
C) Georg Hegel
D) Albert Camus

Accepted Answer

The answer of In this chapter, which of the following...

Question 12

For Marx, the perfect future world would be a(n) society.

Accepted Answer

The answer of For Marx, the perfect future world would...

Question 13

For Marx, the more perfect world would be a world without
A) racial divisions.
B) slavery.
C) economic classes.
D) division of labor.

Accepted Answer

Marx believed that a perfect world would be one without economic classes, where all individuals have equal access to resources and opportunities. He argued that the capitalist system perpetuates inequality and exploitation, and that the only way to achieve true equality is through a socialist revolution that overthrows the bourgeoisie and establishes a communist society. While Marx did address issues of race and slavery, these were primarily seen as manifestations of the larger class struggle and would be resolved through the elimination of economic classes. Marx did not directly address the division of labor in his work, but he did argue that in a communist society, individuals would be free to pursue any type of work they choose and would not be constrained by the division of labor imposed by capitalist production.

Question 14

Richard Taylor argues for the view that
A) Life has no meaning
B) History is progressing
C) History is over
D) Life has meaning

Accepted Answer

Richard Taylor argues that life has no inherent meaning, suggesting that meaning is not intrinsic but rather something we impose or create ourselves.

Question 15

Which of the following philosophers is an advocate of nihilism?
A) Oswald Spengler
B) Karl Marx
C) Francis Fukuyama
D) Arthur Schopenhauer

Accepted Answer

Arthur Schopenhauer is known for his advocacy of nihilism, as he believed that life is ultimately meaningless and devoid of purpose. He famously wrote, "The world is my idea: this is a truth which holds good for everything that lives and knows, though man alone can bring it into reflective and abstract consciousness… Life is an oscillation between the two poles of pain and boredom."

Question 16

What type of meaning could our lives have, according to Taylor?
A) Religious
B) Subjective
C) Objective
D) Universal

Accepted Answer

The answer of What type of meaning could our lives...

Question 17

What did Hegel say was free?
A) German nations
B) Spirit
C) The will
D) Liberty

Accepted Answer

According to Hegel, the Spirit or the Geist is free. In his philosophy, freedom was not just limited to individual will or liberty but extended to the collective consciousness of society and culture. Hegel believed that the world was an embodiment of Spirit and that freedom could only be achieved through the realization of the Spirit's development and progress. Therefore, the liberation of the Spirit was the ultimate goal of human existence.

Question 18

Who believed that all good things are vanity?
A) Marx
B) Mill
C) Camus
D) Schopenhauer

Accepted Answer

Schopenhauer believed that all good things are vanity and that worldly pleasures and pursuits ultimately lead to suffering and dissatisfaction. He emphasized the importance of removing oneself from desire and seeking inner peace through renunciation and simplicity.

Question 19

The lifestyles that Kierkegaard described included one he termed
A) political.
B) nihilistic.
C) religious.
D) ontological.

Accepted Answer

Kierkegaard was known for his emphasis on the individual's relationship with God, and his philosophy revolved around the concept of faith. Therefore, he most likely described the religious lifestyle as the one he termed. He did criticize political and societal institutions, but his focus was on the individual's inward spirituality. Nihilistic and ontological are not lifestyles that Kierkegaard specifically described.

Question 20

The view that there is no larger whole or part to which we can contribute is
A) Communism
B) Virtue ethics
C) Socialism
D) Nihilism

Accepted Answer

Nihilism is the view that there is no inherent meaning or larger purpose to existence. As a result, there is no larger whole or part to which individuals can contribute.

Quiz 9: Postscript: the Meaning of Life

R. M. Hare has argued that the response to the question of whether life has meaning is mistaken.

For Kierkegaard, the commitment to the ethical stage of life involves

Marx held that progress was

Hegel called the modern nations the nations.

Aquinas' view can be called the response to the question of meaning.

For Kierkegaard, the meaning of life is

Who said, "So the ultimate purpose of human beings is to know God"?

Nihilism is the claim that

Sartre was

In this chapter, which of the following philosophers argues that nothing can give life meaning unless we choose it and make it our own?

In this chapter, which of the following philosophers argued that the nihilist response is mistaken?

For Marx, the perfect future world would be a(n) society.

For Marx, the more perfect world would be a world without

Richard Taylor argues for the view that

Which of the following philosophers is an advocate of nihilism?

What type of meaning could our lives have, according to Taylor?

What did Hegel say was free?

Who believed that all good things are vanity?

The lifestyles that Kierkegaard described included one he termed

The view that there is no larger whole or part to which we can contribute is