Deck 5: The Tragic Sense of Life Excerpts

Question 1

According to Unamuno, the desire for personal immortality

A) is the starting point of philosophy and human knowledge
B) is fundamentally wrongheaded
C) is essential to human life
D) (a) and c

Answer 1

(a) and c

Question 2

Unamuno's reaction to those who profess to be indifferent to whether they are immoral is

A) disbelief
B) anger
C) amusement
D) envy

Answer 2

disbelief

Question 3

Unamuno believes it is possible for us to conceive of what it would be like not to exist.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Which of the following best expresses Unamuno's view regarding reason and immortality?

A) Reason can convincingly prove our immortality.
B) Reason can convincingly prove our mortality.
C) Reason cannot settle the question of whether we are mortal or immortal.
D) We should believe in our immortality regardless of what reason dictates.

Question 5

How does Unamuno say he would react if he learned that death brought about the end of our existence?

A) With indifference
B) With despair and a sense of meaninglessness
C) With delight and joy
D) With puzzlement

Question 6

Unamuno claims that we are both unable to conceive of ourselves as not existing but also unable to fully accept that we are immortal. Are these two claims correct? Why or why not? If so, is there any way out of this apparent dilemma?

Question 7

"Faith in immortality is irrational," according to Unamuno. Is that correct? If so, what implications does that have for how we ought to live our lives?