Question 1

A characteristic of the philosophy of existentialism is its stress that all human actions are determined.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Hazel Barnes argues that if there were some ultimate purpose we were meant to fulfill,that would restrict our freedom and creativity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

List several things you did recently or experiences you had that gave some meaning to your life (no matter how small).Discuss the ways in which these meaningful events did or did not support the views of (1)the religious-metaphysical approach to meaning and (2)the secular-humanist approach to meaning.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List several things you did recently or...

Question 4

Discuss times in your life when the viewpoint of nihilism seemed to have some plausibility.In the light of these experiences,discuss why you did or did not ultimately embrace nihilism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss times in your life when the...

Question 5

Discuss one of the five insights of existentialism listed in your book.What are the strengths and weakness of this point?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss one of the five insights of...

Question 6

According to your text,the role of rational,objective considerations with respect to the meaning of life is that they should

Accepted Answer

A)  be the only basis for making such ultimate decisions. 
B)  be used to clarify our choices,but they cannot make the decision for us. 
C)  play no role whatsoever in personal decisions about one's life. 
D)  be brought in only if it is necessary to persuade someone else of the value of our subjective decisions.

Question 7

Leo Tolstoy found the resolution to all his doubts in philosophical arguments for the existence of God.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Leo Tolstoy discovered the meaning of life,through the influence of

Accepted Answer

A)  the faith of simple,uneducated peasants. 
B)  philosophers who provided him with an intellectual basis for faith. 
C)  scientists who showed that science and religion can be reconciled. 
D)  another respected novelist who had recently found faith.

Question 9

The mosaic metaphor was used to illustrate the view that there are many different meaningful patterns that can be composed within each individual's life.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Some philosophers argue that the question "What is the meaning of life?" is a meaningless one.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

There are both religious and atheistic existentialists.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

When Jean-Paul Sartre discusses his conversation with a student during World War II,the point he makes about Christian Doctrine is that it

Accepted Answer

A)  provides advice that is too general to solve the student's dilemma. 
B)  can serve as an effective guideline in making decisions. 
C)  is rationally indefensible. 
D)  leads to actions that Sartre found to be objectionable.

Question 13

Concerning decisions about the meaning of life,Kierkegaard advised us to

Accepted Answer

A)  follow the decisions of the great philosophers in history. 
B)  always suspend judgment and avoid all commitments. 
C)  only make choices when there is no risk involved. 
D)  realize that choice,commitment,and risk are inescapable.

Exam 7: Philosophy and the Meaning of Life

A characteristic of the philosophy of existentialism is its stress that all human actions are determined.

Hazel Barnes argues that if there were some ultimate purpose we were meant to fulfill,that would restrict our freedom and creativity.

Discuss times in your life when the viewpoint of nihilism seemed to have some plausibility.In the light of these experiences,discuss why you did or did not ultimately embrace nihilism.

Discuss one of the five insights of existentialism listed in your book.What are the strengths and weakness of this point?

According to your text,the role of rational,objective considerations with respect to the meaning of life is that they should

Leo Tolstoy found the resolution to all his doubts in philosophical arguments for the existence of God.

Leo Tolstoy discovered the meaning of life,through the influence of

The mosaic metaphor was used to illustrate the view that there are many different meaningful patterns that can be composed within each individual's life.

Some philosophers argue that the question "What is the meaning of life?" is a meaningless one.

There are both religious and atheistic existentialists.

When Jean-Paul Sartre discusses his conversation with a student during World War II,the point he makes about Christian Doctrine is that it

Concerning decisions about the meaning of life,Kierkegaard advised us to