Question 1

Wolf says, "to devote one's life entirely to activities whose value is merely ___________, 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."
A) subjective
B) expressive
C) transcendent
D) devotional

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is "subjective" because the context implies that the value of the activities is based on personal opinions or feelings rather than objective truth, which aligns with the definition of subjective. Activities whose value is merely subjective and justified only by personal benefit reflect a solipsistic viewpoint, focusing solely on the self.

Question 2

Wolf says, "I am suggesting that we can have a reason to do something or to care about something that is grounded not in our own psychologies, nor specifically in our own desires, but in a ..."
A) spiritually relevant manner.
B) fact about the world.
C) religious revelation.
D) non-committed aspect.

Accepted Answer

Wolf is suggesting that we can have a reason to do something or care about something that is grounded in a fact about the world, rather than our own personal desires or psychology.

Question 3

Wolf says, "Some people do undoubtedly get very upset, even despondent when they start to think about their cosmic insignificance. They want to be important, to have an impact on the world, to make a mark that will last forever. When they realize that they cannot achieve this, they are very disappointed. The only advice one can give to such people is: ..."
A) God still loves you.
B) You will be reincarnated.
C) Keep Trying.
D) Get Over It.

Accepted Answer

"Get Over It" may seem harsh, but it is the most realistic and practical advice. It is important to accept the reality of our cosmic insignificance and focus on finding personal meaning and fulfillment in our lives, rather than seeking external validation or striving for unattainable goals.

Question 4

According to Wolf, "Though there may well be many things going on when people ask, 'What is the meaning of life?', the most central among them seems to be a search to find the secret to immortality."

Accepted Answer

Susan Wolf suggests that when people inquire about the meaning of life, they are primarily seeking something that makes life worth living, rather than specifically searching for the secret to immortality.

Question 5

Wolf says that some people have held that if "there is no God, then there can be no meaning, in the sense of a point or purpose to our existence. We are simply a product of physical processes-there are no reasons for our existence, just mysteries."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Wolf says that some people have held...

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Wolf's question suggests that if one suspects there is no meaning to life, continuing to discuss the possibility of finding meaning might be contradictory or short-sighted, as it implies a disconnect between their belief and their actions.

Question 7

According to Wolf, "For me, the idea of a meaningless life is most clearly and effectively embodied in the image of a person who spends day after day, or night after night, in front of a television set, drinking beer and watching situation comedies."

Accepted Answer

This is a direct quote from Wolf's essay "The Meaning of Life".

Question 8

Wolf asserts that the "cases of the idle rich, the corporate executive and the pig farmer are in some ways very different, but they all share at least this feature: they can all be characterized as lives whose dominant activities seem covariant with modern existence."

Accepted Answer

The quote is a misattribution or fabrication, as it does not accurately reflect any well-known statement by a specific author named Wolf regarding the comparison of the idle rich, corporate executives, and pig farmers in the context of modern existence. The concept of lives being "covariant with modern existence" is not a standard phrase or idea directly associated with discussions about these groups in philosophical or sociological literature.

Question 9

Wolf offers a "proposal for what it is to live a meaningful life: viz., a meaningful life is one that is actively and at least somewhat successfully engaged in a project (or projects) of positive value."

Accepted Answer

This is the proposal presented by Susan Wolf.

Question 10

Wolf says, "We should be careful, however, not to equate objective goodness with moral goodness."

Accepted Answer

Wolf is cautioning against assuming that objective goodness (i.e. something that is universally true or factual) is the same as moral goodness (i.e. something that is considered morally right or virtuous).

Question 11

Wolf says, "That people do want meaning in their lives, I take it, is an observable, empirical fact. We have already noted the evidence of self-help manuals, and therapy groups. What I have offered so far is an analysis of what that desire or concern amounts to. I want now to turn to the question of whether the desire is one that it is good that people have, whether, that is, there is some positive reason why they have evolved to seek this."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Wolf says, "That people do want meaning...

Question 12

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."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Wolf says, "to devote one's life entirely...

Question 13

Wolf says, "I am suggesting that we can have a reason to do something or to care about something that is grounded not in our own psychologies, nor specifically in our own desires, but in a fact about the world."

Accepted Answer

Wolf argues that we can have external reasons to care about something that are grounded in a fact about the world, rather than solely based on our own desires or psychologies.

Question 14

Wolf says, "Some people do undoubtedly get very upset, even despondent when they start to think about their cosmic insignificance. They want to be important, to have an impact on the world, to make a mark that will last forever. When they realize that they cannot achieve this, they are very disappointed. The only advice one can give to such people is: Get Over It."

Accepted Answer

Wolf states that some people get upset about their cosmic insignificance and their inability to make a mark that lasts forever, but advises them to get over it.

Question 15

Explain in detail Wolf's offer of a "proposal for what it is to live a meaningful life: viz., a meaningful life is one that is actively and at least somewhat successfully engaged in a project (or projects) of positive value."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain in detail Wolf's offer of a...

Question 16

Explain in detail Wolf's statement that "We should be careful, however, not to equate objective goodness with moral goodness." Do you agree with Wolf?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain in detail Wolf's statement that "We...

Question 17

Explain what Wolf means when she says, "That people do want meaning in their lives, I take it, is an observable, empirical fact. We have already noted the evidence of self-help manuals, and therapy groups. What I have offered so far is an analysis of what that desire or concern amounts to. I want now to turn to the question of whether the desire is one that it is good that people have, whether, that is, there is some positive reason why they should want this."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain what Wolf means when she says,...

Question 18

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."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain what Wolf means when she says,...

Question 19

Explain what Wolf means when she says, "I am suggesting that we can have a reason to do something or to care about something that is grounded not in our own psychologies, nor specifically in our own desires, but in a fact about the world."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain what Wolf means when she says,...

Question 20

Wolf says, "Some people do undoubtedly get very upset, even despondent when they start to think about their cosmic insignificance. They want to be important, to have an impact on the world, to make a mark that will last forever. When they realize that they cannot achieve this, they are very disappointed. The only advice one can give to such people is: Get Over It." Do you agree with Wolf?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Wolf says, "Some people do undoubtedly get...

Quiz 10: Epicurus in Waking or in Dream

Wolf says, "to devote one's life entirely to activities whose value is merely ___________, 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 says, "I am suggesting that we can have a reason to do something or to care about something that is grounded not in our own psychologies, nor specifically in our own desires, but in a ..."

According to Wolf, "Though there may well be many things going on when people ask, 'What is the meaning of life?', the most central among them seems to be a search to find the secret to immortality."

Wolf says that some people have held that if "there is no God, then there can be no meaning, in the sense of a point or purpose to our existence. We are simply a product of physical processes-there are no reasons for our existence, just mysteries."

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

According to Wolf, "For me, the idea of a meaningless life is most clearly and effectively embodied in the image of a person who spends day after day, or night after night, in front of a television set, drinking beer and watching situation comedies."

Wolf asserts that the "cases of the idle rich, the corporate executive and the pig farmer are in some ways very different, but they all share at least this feature: they can all be characterized as lives whose dominant activities seem covariant with modern existence."

Wolf offers a "proposal for what it is to live a meaningful life: viz., a meaningful life is one that is actively and at least somewhat successfully engaged in a project (or projects) of positive value."

Wolf says, "We should be careful, however, not to equate objective goodness with moral goodness."

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 says, "I am suggesting that we can have a reason to do something or to care about something that is grounded not in our own psychologies, nor specifically in our own desires, but in a fact about the world."

Explain in detail Wolf's offer of a "proposal for what it is to live a meaningful life: viz., a meaningful life is one that is actively and at least somewhat successfully engaged in a project (or projects) of positive value."

Explain in detail Wolf's statement that "We should be careful, however, not to equate objective goodness with moral goodness." Do you agree with Wolf?

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."

Explain what Wolf means when she says, "I am suggesting that we can have a reason to do something or to care about something that is grounded not in our own psychologies, nor specifically in our own desires, but in a fact about the world."