Question 1

Existentialists maintain that education should place greater emphasis upon individual human reality,by which they mean&#10;A)helping subjective individuals become more objective.&#10;B)preparing students to face the demands of the job market.&#10;C)helping individuals understand scientific objectivity.&#10;D)exploring the rational and irrational aspects of existence.

Accepted Answer

Existentialists believe that education should explore the rational and irrational aspects of existence, which includes the individual's subjective experience of existence. This involves questioning and analyzing the meaning of life, the nature of freedom, and the individual's relationship to society. It places greater emphasis on the individual's unique experience rather than solely preparing them for the demands of the job market.

Question 2

Kierkegaard's philosophical studies were mainly concerned with individual alienation from&#10;A)an overbearing peer group.&#10;B)a sinful and unrepentant world of non-believers.&#10;C)unfair competition in the economic order.&#10;D)an objective and science-oriented world.

Accepted Answer

Kierkegaard's philosophical studies were mainly concerned with individual alienation from an objective and science-oriented world. He believed that rationality and objectivity can lead to the loss of personal identity and ethical responsibility, and urged individuals to embrace their subjectivity and live passionately in accordance with their own values and beliefs.

Question 3

Educational theorists such as Carl Rogers reflect an existentialist outlook in their belief that teachers should&#10;A)be facilitators of learning.&#10;B)show,guide,and direct.&#10;C)promote problem solving.&#10;D)be humanistic taskmasters.

Accepted Answer

Carl Rogers was a humanistic psychologist who believed that teachers should act as facilitators of learning, guiding students to discover knowledge for themselves rather than simply imparting information. This approach is reflective of an existentialist outlook because it emphasizes the individual's responsibility for their own learning and growth. Additionally, promoting problem-solving is a key component of facilitating learning in a humanistic/existentialist approach.

Question 4

Maxine Greene's view that educators should promote &#34;wide-awakeness&#34; among students reflects the existentialist belief that a proper education should make us aware of&#10;A)future possibilities.&#10;B)irrational behavior.&#10;C)extensive determinism.&#10;D)powerful hierarchies.

Accepted Answer

Maxine Greene's view that educators should promote "wide-awakeness" among students reflects the existentialist belief that a proper education should make us aware of future possibilities.

Question 5

A central identifying feature of existentialist thought is the theme of the individual&#10;A)caught up in a meaningless and absurd world.&#10;B)finding meaning in the adolescent years.&#10;C)seeking a place in the social order.&#10;D)maintaining objectivity in social relations.

Accepted Answer

Existentialist thought views the world as lacking inherent meaning or purpose, leaving the individual to confront the absurdity of existence and create their own meaning. This places a strong emphasis on the individual and their subjective experience.

Question 6

From the phenomenological standpoint,education should help students develop a rational understanding of&#10;A)an encompassing sense of objectivity that explains our lived experience.&#10;B)what the world will impose from the outside onto impressionable students.&#10;C)the demands imposed by others in a competitive social environment.&#10;D)the primary world of consciousness that each of us brings to learning situations.

Accepted Answer

From the phenomenological standpoint, education should help students develop a rational understanding of the primary world of consciousness that each of us brings to learning situations. In this approach, it is important to acknowledge that individual experiences and perceptions shape how we view the world, and education should help students develop a deeper understanding of their own consciousness and subjective experience.

Question 7

According to Sartre,we are &#34;condemned to be free,&#34; and this view of freedom also means that we are&#10;A)justified in always acting in our own self interest.&#10;B)totally responsible for our choices and actions.&#10;C)unable to escape from our traditions and inhibitions.&#10;D)forever condemned to follow traditional freedom.

Accepted Answer

According to Sartre's philosophy, we are "condemned to be free," meaning that we are totally responsible for our choices and actions since we have complete freedom in making them. Therefore, option B is the correct choice.

Question 8

Christian existentialists such as Gabriel Marcel believe that an important aspect of human experience should be&#10;A)learning job skills in the economy.&#10;B)the presence of fellow human beings.&#10;C)the demands of the group.&#10;D)legitimate needs for adult approval.

Accepted Answer

Christian existentialists such as Gabriel Marcel emphasize the importance of human relationships and the presence of fellow human beings in shaping our experiences and understanding of the world. This is in contrast to prioritizing individual success or the demands of a particular group. Therefore, B (the presence of fellow human beings) is the most appropriate choice.

Question 9

Hermeneutics is the philosophical study of&#10;A)individual behavior in environmental conditions.&#10;B)objective biographical data about other people.&#10;C)the interpretation and meaning of conscious experience.&#10;D)humanistic interpretations of literature.

Accepted Answer

Hermeneutics is focused on the interpretation and meaning behind conscious experience, whether that be in literature, culture, religion, or language. It is concerned with understanding the underlying context and assumptions that shape human thought and perception, rather than simply collecting objective data or studying behavior in a vacuum.

Question 10

Buber promoted an &#34;I-Thou&#34; view of interpersonal relationships; that is,one must recognize that each and every individual has&#10;A)an inalienable right to self-expression.&#10;B)an intense need to clarify language concepts.&#10;C)a commitment to her own social well being.&#10;D)the freedom to reject others.

Accepted Answer

Buber's "I-Thou" relationship emphasizes the importance of recognizing and valuing the other person's inherent worth and dignity, including their right to self-expression. In an "I-Thou" relationship, individuals acknowledge and embrace each other as unique and important beings, rather than merely objects to be used or manipulated. Therefore, option A is the correct choice.

Deck 7: Existentialism and Education