Question 1

Olberding interprets Zhuangzi as suggesting what about our emotional responses?

Accepted Answer

A)  We should try to overcome all of them 
B)  Only some sorts of emotional responses, like grief, are okay, but not fear or anger 
C)  We should be wary of them, but not too quick to simply give them up 
D)  None of the above 
A)  We should try to overcome all of them 
B)  Only some sorts of emotional responses, like grief, are okay, but not fear or anger 
C)  We should be wary of them, but not too quick to simply give them up 
D)  None of the above C

Question 2

What happens to Ivan Ilyich?

Accepted Answer

A)  He finds out he is never going to die, and laments this fact 
B)  He appreciates his life too late because he doesn't appreciate his death until the end 
C)  He lives his life always worrying about the fact that he is going to die, and so is miserable 
D)  None of the above 
A)  He finds out he is never going to die, and laments this fact 
B)  He appreciates his life too late because he doesn't appreciate his death until the end 
C)  He lives his life always worrying about the fact that he is going to die, and so is miserable 
D)  None of the above B

Question 3

Why does Nagel reject the notion that people only fear death because they try and fail to imagine what it is like to be dead?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nagel doesn't reject this notion 
B)  This suggests that death is a state, and death isn't a state 
C)  People also can't imagine what it is like to be unconscious but unconsciousness itself isn't scary 
D)  People can imagine what it is like to be dead 
A)  Nagel doesn't reject this notion 
B)  This suggests that death is a state, and death isn't a state 
C)  People also can't imagine what it is like to be unconscious but unconsciousness itself isn't scary 
D)  People can imagine what it is like to be dead C

Question 4

The experience of existential shock, according to Baillie, involves

Accepted Answer

A)  recognizing one's mortality from the inside view. 
B)  recognizing one's mortality from the outside view. 
C)  recognizing one's mortality from a God's-eye point of view. 
D)  recognizing one's mortality from another's point of view. 
A)  recognizing one's mortality from the inside view. 
B)  recognizing one's mortality from the outside view. 
C)  recognizing one's mortality from a God's-eye point of view. 
D)  recognizing one's mortality from another's point of view.

Question 5

For Nagel, the sense that life as a whole is absurd arises when we perceive an inflated pretension or aspiration which is inescapable from the continuation of human life.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Death is bad, for Nagel, because of its positive features, like the pain it causes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

For Nagel . . .

Accepted Answer

A)  Something can only be bad for someone if he or she experience it 
B)  Something can only be bad for someone if it is unpleasant for them 
C)  Not all goods and ills that befall someone need be located in place and time 
D)  All goods and ills that befall someone are located in place and time 
A)  Something can only be bad for someone if he or she experience it 
B)  Something can only be bad for someone if it is unpleasant for them 
C)  Not all goods and ills that befall someone need be located in place and time 
D)  All goods and ills that befall someone are located in place and time

Question 8

Ismael argues that hedonism is correct.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

What is the Children of Men scenario supposed to illustrate?

Accepted Answer

A)  We care about more than just our loved ones continuing to exist after our death. 
B)  We care about our loved ones continuing to exist after our death. 
C)  We care only about our loved ones continuing to exist after our death. 
D)  We don't care about anyone continuing to exist after our death. 
A)  We care about more than just our loved ones continuing to exist after our death. 
B)  We care about our loved ones continuing to exist after our death. 
C)  We care only about our loved ones continuing to exist after our death. 
D)  We don't care about anyone continuing to exist after our death.

Question 10

For Wolf, a person who doesn't care about whether their life is meaningful . . .

Accepted Answer

A)  Is being irrational 
B)  Cannot be moral 
C)  Cannot be accused of irrationality 
D)  Has no meaning in her life 
A)  Is being irrational 
B)  Cannot be moral 
C)  Cannot be accused of irrationality 
D)  Has no meaning in her life

Question 11

Scheffler argues that we only care about things that we can experience.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Why is Sisyphus tragic, according to Camus?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because he was condemned to such a horrific punishment 
B)  Because he lost his wife 
C)  Because he is conscious 
D)  Because despite having a loving wife, he failed to appreciate her love 
A)  Because he was condemned to such a horrific punishment 
B)  Because he lost his wife 
C)  Because he is conscious 
D)  Because despite having a loving wife, he failed to appreciate her love

Question 13

Most people believe that there can only be meaning in life if . . .

Accepted Answer

A)  Lives can be meaningful 
B)  God exists 
C)  Not all value is subjective 
D)  None of the above 
A)  Lives can be meaningful 
B)  God exists 
C)  Not all value is subjective 
D)  None of the above

Question 14

Schopenhauer held that our lives are meaningless . . .

Accepted Answer

A)  Because of the very nature of life 
B)  Because of the structure of government 
C)  Because of the pain they inherently involve 
D)  Because of economic issues 
A)  Because of the very nature of life 
B)  Because of the structure of government 
C)  Because of the pain they inherently involve 
D)  Because of economic issues

Question 15

What is the hedonist's mistake, according to Ismael?

Accepted Answer

A)  The hedonist thinks that death serves to provide a frame for our lives 
B)  The hedonist thinks that life is about securing a good afterlife 
C)  The hedonist thinks that a good life is just a good narrative 
D)  The hedonist thinks a good life is just a life that strings together pleasant moments 
A)  The hedonist thinks that death serves to provide a frame for our lives 
B)  The hedonist thinks that life is about securing a good afterlife 
C)  The hedonist thinks that a good life is just a good narrative 
D)  The hedonist thinks a good life is just a life that strings together pleasant moments

Question 16

For Taylor, the life of someone in a coma is more meaningful than the life of an insect.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Nagel suggests that betrayal is only bad for someone if he or she experiences that betrayal.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

One way in which existential shock is valuable is that it

Accepted Answer

A)  allows for us to see ourselves for what we really are. 
B)  brings about more appreciation for life. 
C)  can make us better people. 
D)  shows us how we ought to live. 
A)  allows for us to see ourselves for what we really are. 
B)  brings about more appreciation for life. 
C)  can make us better people. 
D)  shows us how we ought to live.

Question 19

Zhuangzi grieved his wife's death as an ordinary person would in his society.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Why does Taylor think most people have accepted the traditional theological and philosophical reasons for life's being meaningful?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are demanding 
B)  They put one in touch with something higher 
C)  They are comforting 
D)  They are convincing 
A)  They are demanding 
B)  They put one in touch with something higher 
C)  They are comforting 
D)  They are convincing

Olberding interprets Zhuangzi as suggesting what about our emotional responses?

What happens to Ivan Ilyich?

Why does Nagel reject the notion that people only fear death because they try and fail to imagine what it is like to be dead?

The experience of existential shock, according to Baillie, involves

For Nagel, the sense that life as a whole is absurd arises when we perceive an inflated pretension or aspiration which is inescapable from the continuation of human life.

Death is bad, for Nagel, because of its positive features, like the pain it causes.

For Nagel . . .

Ismael argues that hedonism is correct.

What is the Children of Men scenario supposed to illustrate?

For Wolf, a person who doesn't care about whether their life is meaningful . . .

Scheffler argues that we only care about things that we can experience.

Why is Sisyphus tragic, according to Camus?

Most people believe that there can only be meaning in life if . . .

Schopenhauer held that our lives are meaningless . . .

What is the hedonist's mistake, according to Ismael?

For Taylor, the life of someone in a coma is more meaningful than the life of an insect.

Nagel suggests that betrayal is only bad for someone if he or she experiences that betrayal.

One way in which existential shock is valuable is that it

Zhuangzi grieved his wife's death as an ordinary person would in his society.

Why does Taylor think most people have accepted the traditional theological and philosophical reasons for life's being meaningful?

Philosophy

God and Evil

Knowledge and Reality

Minds, Bodies, and Persons

Ethics and Society

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Exam 6: Existential Issues

Olberding interprets Zhuangzi as suggesting what about our emotional responses?

What happens to Ivan Ilyich?

Why does Nagel reject the notion that people only fear death because they try and fail to imagine what it is like to be dead?

The experience of existential shock, according to Baillie, involves

For Nagel, the sense that life as a whole is absurd arises when we perceive an inflated pretension or aspiration which is inescapable from the continuation of human life.

Death is bad, for Nagel, because of its positive features, like the pain it causes.

For Nagel . . .

Ismael argues that hedonism is correct.

What is the Children of Men scenario supposed to illustrate?

For Wolf, a person who doesn't care about whether their life is meaningful . . .

Scheffler argues that we only care about things that we can experience.

Why is Sisyphus tragic, according to Camus?

Most people believe that there can only be meaning in life if . . .

Schopenhauer held that our lives are meaningless . . .

What is the hedonist's mistake, according to Ismael?

For Taylor, the life of someone in a coma is more meaningful than the life of an insect.

Nagel suggests that betrayal is only bad for someone if he or she experiences that betrayal.

One way in which existential shock is valuable is that it

Zhuangzi grieved his wife's death as an ordinary person would in his society.

Why does Taylor think most people have accepted the traditional theological and philosophical reasons for life's being meaningful?

Philosophy

God and Evil

Knowledge and Reality

Minds, Bodies, and Persons

Ethics and Society

Filters