Deck 86: Susan Wolf: Meaning in Life

Question 1

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-Wolf thinks that meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in

A) projects of introspection.
B) episodes of pleasure.
C) projects of worth.
D) projects of understanding.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-Wolf says that the opposites of active engagement are

A) excitement and interest.
B) boredom and alienation.
C) faith and eagerness.
D) enthusiasm and concentration.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-Wolf says that "projects of worth" involve a commitment to some sort of

A) subjective value.
B) social preference.
C) personal choice.
D) objective value.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-Wolf says that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less

A) worthwhile ways to spend one's time.
B) enjoyable ways to spend one's time.
C) perfect ways to spend one's time.
D) profitable ways to spend one's time.

Question 5

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-Wolf argues that what you do with your life doesn't matter as long as you enjoy or prefer it.

Question 6

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-Among the things that can count as meaningful, Wolf lists relationships with friends and relatives and aesthetic enterprises.

Question 7

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-Wolf believes that things are worthwhile simply because we desire them.

Question 8

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-Wolf thinks that a life is meaningless if it lacks active engagement with anything.

Question 9

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-According to Wolf, a person who is actively engaged may live a meaningless life if the objects of her engagement are worthless.

Question 10

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-Wolf thinks that some projects are worthwhile but too boring or mechanical to be sources of meaning.

Question 11

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-Wolf asserts that people do not get meaning from recycling or from writing checks to Oxfam.

Question 12

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-Wolf thinks meaningless lives include those of Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Albert Einstein.

Question 13

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-To Wolf, to be actively engaged in something is always pleasant.

Question 14

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-Wolf notes that people often have concerns about the meaningfulness of their lives even though their lives have been satisfying.

Question 15

Susan Wolf, philosopher and author of Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, argues that meaning in life must consist of both subjective and objective elements. As she says, "meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in projects of worth." Active engagement is involvement in something that grips or excites a person, something that arouses passion. But this subjective response alone is not enough to add significant meaning to someone's life. Mere passion about an activity is, in itself, insufficient to contribute meaningfulness to a life. The passion must be directed at projects that are in themselves worthwhile. "What is clear to me," she says, "is that there can be no sense to the idea of meaningfulness without a distinction between more and less worthwhile ways to spend one's time, where the test of worth is at least partly independent of a subject's ungrounded preferences or enjoyment."
This view belies the often expressed notion that what someone does doesn't matter as long as the person enjoys it or prefers it or gets satisfaction out of it. But people do wonder sometimes if an activity they enjoy is in fact worthwhile. Some people with satisfying lives do feel that their existence is meaningless.
-Wolf declares that meaning arises when subjective attraction meets objective attractiveness.