10 Philosophers, 10 Questions! - Part 2 Quiz

Answer: Someone who lives a comfortable, herd-like life within social conventions

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) was a German philosopher. Nietzsche was one of the forerunners of existentialism.

The Last Man is the antithesis of the Übermensch (Overman or Superman). In Nietzsche's philosophy, the Übermensch is an individual who transcends conventional moral values, forging a unique path through self-determination and creativity. This figure rejects societal conformity, viewing life's challenges as opportunities for growth and personal mastery. In contrast, the Last Man embodies a dismal vision of humanity's future, marked by complacency and mediocrity, where people prioritize comfort and conformity over ambition and authentic fulfillment.

Answer: Ceramic jar

Diogenes (412 or 404 BC - 323 BC), a founder of Cynicism, lived in a large ceramic jar to reject material comforts and societal norms. Cynicism advocates living in accordance with nature, rejecting societal conventions and material wealth to achieve virtue. This radical simplicity embodied the Cynic ideal of self-sufficiency, with Diogenes' jar symbolizing his defiance of conventional values and his pursuit of virtue through austerity.

Answer: Humans project their own attributes onto an imagined entity

Ludwig Feuerbach (1804-1872) was a German philosopher and anthropologist renowned for his radical critique of religion. He contended that religion fundamentally embodies a form of self-estrangement, wherein humans project their intrinsic qualities - such as love, reason, and morality - onto an imagined divine being. For example, the Christian doctrine of Incarnation is interpreted by Feuerbach as a symbolic representation of the human desire for perfection within the limitations of human existence.

Answer: Fear

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) was a statesman, political philosopher, and diplomat from Florence, Italy.

"The Prince" (1532) by Niccolò Machiavelli is a guide for rulers on how to gain and maintain power through pragmatic and often ruthless strategies. In the book, Machiavelli writes, "It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both." Love is not worth pursuing, as it depends on mutual commitment, and Machiavelli views humans as inherently ungrateful and self-serving. People rarely reciprocate, leading to dependency. Instead, it's better to cultivate fear; when others recognize their dependence on you, they respect your power.

For Machiavelli, maintaining fear is vital. Fear can quickly turn to hatred, so avoid encroaching on property and harming women. Excessive cruelty is harmful, but, if necessary, it should be carefully applied without harming property or women, as intense hatred can undermine authority.

Answer: Accepting fate and self-discipline

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180) was the Roman emperor from 161 until his death in 180, as well as a philosopher and a leading figure in the later Stoic school of thought. In Marcus Aurelius's Stoic philosophy, accepting fate and self-discipline are key.

He believed that while we can't control events, we can control how we respond to them. Self-discipline helps maintain inner peace, allowing us to embrace whatever happens as part of a rational, ordered universe. As emperor during times of war and plague, Marcus Aurelius exemplified self-discipline by dedicating early mornings to contemplation on Stoic virtues.

This commitment allowed him to remain composed and virtuous, demonstrating the strength of his philosophy in the face of external challenges.

Answer: Eudaimonia

Aristotle (384-322 BC) is arguably the most famous philosopher in history. An Ancient Greek philosopher, he is best known for his dialogues with notable Greek figures.

Aristotle begins his ethical inquiry with the question: What is the ultimate good for humans? He posits that every activity aims at some good, and the highest good must be something desired for its own sake, not merely as a means to another end. This supreme good, he argues, is eudaimonia (happiness or welfare), which encompasses more than just temporary pleasure or satisfaction; it represents the full realization of one's rational and moral capacities. The path to achieving eudaimonia lies in the cultivation of virtue.

Answer: It demonstrates the limitations of human understanding regarding divine intentions

Pierre Bayle (1647-1706) was a French philosopher known for his critical examination of religious and philosophical thought.

After examining various theological responses to the problem of evil, Bayle concluded that none were wholly satisfactory. This led him to assert that human reason is inadequate for addressing profound metaphysical questions. Notably, despite his skepticism, Bayle did not relinquish his faith. Instead, he championed a form of fideism, which posits that faith is essential precisely because reason alone cannot fully comprehend ultimate truths.

Answer: War of all against all

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) was an English political thinker and philosopher renowned primarily for his seminal work, "Leviathan" (1651), in which he explores the foundations of political legitimacy and sovereign authority.

According to Hobbes, in the absence of a political structure - what he terms the "state of nature" - humankind is perpetually in a state of war. He argues that, without a sovereign capable of instilling fear and enforcing order, individuals will inevitably find themselves in conflict. Hobbes identifies three fundamental aspects of human nature that give rise to discord: competitiveness, insecurity, and smugness. These factors, according to Hobbes, create a chaotic environment in which life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short," ("Leviathan", Chapter 13) prompting the need for a powerful sovereign to maintain order and peace.

Answer: What are the institutional and discursive processes that contributed to the construction of knowledge about wooden dolls?

Michel Foucault (1926-1984) was a French philosopher known for his exploration of the relationships between power, knowledge, and discourse.

Foucault focused on the processes of exclusion that shape the production of specific discourses while marginalizing others. For example, in his influential work "Madness and Civilization", he investigated the dynamics of insane asylums, examining how the concept of insanity is constructed and perpetuated. He analyzed the mechanisms and tools that sustain the category of madness, as well as the processes that delineate the boundary between the sane and the insane.

Answer: Heraclitus

Heraclitus (6th century BC to 5th century BC) was a Greek pre-Socratic philosopher whose thoughts often resemble poetic language, interpreting and expressing the world through a unique perspective. His famous quote, "A man cannot step into the same river twice, because it is not the same river, and he is not the same man," encapsulates his philosophy of change. The water in the river is in constant flux; thus, although the river may appear unchanged, it is, in fact, entirely different each moment.

Moreover, entering the river alters the person as well. This illustrates that change is an inherent aspect of existence, affecting both the world around us and our own identities. The challenge of identity extends beyond rivers to humanity itself. In this light, the river serves as a powerful symbol, representing the perpetual state of change that characterizes all things in life.