Exam 10: Epicurus in Waking or in Dream

Trisel tells us that some people have argued that "As long as human life, in general, was intended by God, then human life would purportedly have ____________________, regardless of whether the existence of a particular individual was intended by his or her parents or God."

Trisel says, "Albert Einstein is often mentioned as someone who led a meaningful life. In judging whether his life was meaningful, no one would ever ask 'Was his existence intended?' Whether or not a person's existence was intended is necessary to whether this person's life is meaningful."

Taylor says, "Every small piece of junk fills the mind with what once, not long ago, was utterly real, with children's voices, plans made, and enterprises embarked upon. That is how these stones of Sisyphus were rolled up, and that is how they became incorporated into a beautiful temple, and that temple is what now lies before you. Meanwhile other buildings, institutions, nations, and civilizations spring up all around, only to share the same fate before long. And if the question 'What for?' is now asked, the answer is clear: ..."

According to Epicurus, "He who has a clear and certain understanding of these things will direct every preference and aversion toward securing health of body and tranquility of mind, seeing that this is the sum and end of a happy life." Do you agree with Epicurus? Explain your answer.

According to Trisel, many people believe that "If ________ was involved in the emergence of life, this suggests that life was unintended and that it was not inevitable that life would develop."

Nagel says, "I would argue that absurdity is one of the most human things about us: a manifestation of our most advanced and interesting characteristics. Like skepticism in epistemology, it is possible only because we possess a certain kind of insight-the capacity to transcend ourselves in thought."

Wolf says, "to devote one's life entirely to activities whose value is merely transcendent, to devote oneself to activities whose sole justification is that it is good for you, is, in a sense I shall try to explain, practically solipsistic."

Wolf asks, "Are those of us who suspect there is no meaning _____ life deluding ourselves in continuing to talk about the possibility of finding meaning _____ life? (Are we being short-sighted, failing to see the implications of one part of our thought on another?)"

Trisel tells us that some people have argued that "As long as human life, in general, was intended by God, then human life would purportedly have an objective meaning, regardless of whether the existence of a particular individual was intended by his or her parents or God."

Nagel says, "Since justifications must come to an end somewhere, nothing is gained by denying that they end where they appear to, ____________, or by trying to subsume the multiple, often trivial ordinary justifications of action under a single, controlling life scheme."

Explain what Schopenhauer means when he says, "Life presents itself chiefly as a task-the task, I mean, of subsisting at all. If this is accomplished, life is a burden, and then there comes the second task of doing something with that which has been won-of warding off boredom, which, like a bird of prey, hovers over us, ready to fall wherever it sees a life secure from need."

According to Kierkegaard, "if there were no sacred bond which united mankind, if one generation arose after another like the leafage in the forest, if the one generation replaced the other like the song of birds in the forest, if the human race passed through the world as the ship goes through the sea, like the wind through the desert, a thoughtless and fruitless activity, if an eternal oblivion were always lurking hungrily for its prey and there was no power strong enough to wrest it from its maw" then life would be ...

According to Nagel, "What we say to convey the absurdity of our lives often has to do with space or time: we are tiny specks in the infinite vastness of the universe; our lives are mere instants even on a geological time scale, let alone a cosmic one; we will all be dead any minute."

Explain what Schopenhauer means when he says, "In a world where all is unstable, and nothing can endure, but is swept onwards at once in the hurrying whirlpool of change; where a man, if he is to keep erect at all, must always be advancing and moving, like an acrobat on a rope-in such a world happiness in inconceivable."

Nagel says, "Since justifications must come to an end somewhere, nothing is gained by denying that they end where they appear to, within life, or by trying to subsume the multiple, often trivial ordinary justifications of action under a single, controlling life scheme."

Explain Taylor's point when he uses the examples of worms, birds, and fish to say "that there is no point to it at all, that it really culminates in nothing, that each of these cycles, so filled with toil, is to be followed only by more of the same. The point of any living thing's life is, evidently, nothing but life itself." Do you agree with Taylor? Explain your answer.

According to Epicurus, happiness can be achieved by pleasure, but only if it is sought in moderation.

Explain what Wolf means when she says, "to devote one's life entirely to activities whose value is merely subjective to devote oneself to activities whose sole justification is that it is good for you, is, in a sense I shall try to explain, practically solipsistic."

Trisel says, "If God exists and he created humanity as a means to fulfilling a purpose, but then chose not to clarify his purpose or our role, leaving people in a state of doubt, then this would be ..."

According to Epicurus, "necessity destroys responsibility, and chance or fortune is inconstant; whereas our own actions are opaque, and it is to them that praise and blame naturally attach."