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Modern Philosophers Trivia Quiz

These are questions about famous philosophers of the 19th century and 20th centuries.

A multiple-choice quiz by lunarmercury. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
lunarmercury

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
97,757

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
3703

Last 3 plays: Guest 109 (8/10), Guest 172 (7/10), borimor (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who is known as the "Father of Existentialism"? Hint

Georg Wilhelm Hegel

Soren Kierkegaard

Friedrich Nietzsche

Sigmund Freud

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Question 2 of 10

2. A "dialectic process" for the analysis of why/how things in history happen is often incorrectly attributed to Georg Hegel, and said to have been expanded on by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. What are the steps of this method? Hint

protagonist, antagonist, mediator

cause, effect, war

action, reaction, resolution

thesis, antithesis, synthesis

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Question 3 of 10

3. Nietzsche believed there existed a powerful individual who lived for self-gratification and nothing else. What is the common English translation of the term he used to describe this being? Hint

the extraordinary man

the superman

the existentialist man

a god

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which philosopher said "Fear is the mother of morality"? Hint

Sigmund Freud

Fredrich Engels

Karl Marx

Friedrich Nietzsche

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who were the common men according to Karl Marx? Hint

the bourgeoisie

the men who follow him

the men who suffer

the proletarians

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Question 6 of 10

6. What Charles Darwin work suggests evolution by natural selection? Hint

"The Structure of Evolutionary Theory"

"The Wealth of Nations"

"On the Origin of Species"

"Dawkins vs. Gould : Survival of the Fittest"

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Question 7 of 10

7. Freud believed that all humans possess three distinct decision making chambers of human behavior. Which of the following is not one of these chambers? Hint

the superego

the id

the fool

the ego

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Question 8 of 10

8. According to existentialists, what is the key to the suffering of man? Hint

government

man

emotions

lack of natural resources

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Question 9 of 10

9. According to Kierkegaard man was blessed with the greatest gift, but unfortunately this gift generates emotions. What is this gift?

Answer: (Two Words)

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following authors do not display themes from Existential Philosophers in their writing? Hint

Kurt Vonnegut

Albert Camus

L. Frank Baum

Fydor Dostoevsky

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Nov 09 2024 : Guest 109: 8/10
Oct 18 2024 : Guest 172: 7/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who is known as the "Father of Existentialism"?

Answer: Soren Kierkegaard

Kierkegaard said "I believe, therefore I am". He believed the common man merely "thinks" while the existential man believes and knows.

Answer: thesis, antithesis, synthesis

The thesis and antithesis are the proposition and opposition to a situation. The synthesis is the higher truth deduced from the thesis and antithesis. Hegel did describe this process, but attributed the concept to Immanuel Kant, and did not himself explore it in any detail. The terminology actually originated in the writings of Johann Gottlieb Fichte.

3. Nietzsche believed there existed a powerful individual who lived for self-gratification and nothing else. What is the common English translation of the term he used to describe this being?

Answer: the superman

Nietszche believed, like all existentialists, that the ordinary man suffers because of emotions, and that there exist individuals who are so indifferent that they feel no emotion thus not suffering like the common man. Nietszche's word for such people was "�bermensch", which translates more literally as overman, suggesting one who is superior to the common man.

However, partly because of George Bernard Shaw's use of "Man and Superman" in his 1903 play which included references to Nietszche's philosophy, it is more commonly translated as superman.

4. Which philosopher said "Fear is the mother of morality"?

Answer: Friedrich Nietzsche

The translation may not be exact, but this is the most commonly accepted English version of his quote.

5. Who were the common men according to Karl Marx?

Answer: the proletarians

The proletarians were the working class. The bourgeoisie are the middle class, and are considered capitalists.

6. What Charles Darwin work suggests evolution by natural selection?

Answer: "On the Origin of Species"

This book became the foundation for Social Darwinism. "The Wealth of Nations" is by Adam Smith, "Dawkins vs. Gould: Survival of the Fittest" is by Kim Sterelny, and "The Structure of Evolutionary Threory" is by Stephen Jay Gould.

7. Freud believed that all humans possess three distinct decision making chambers of human behavior. Which of the following is not one of these chambers?

Answer: the fool

The id thinks of the instinctual wants and needs. The ego is the rational sector, taking risks and fears into consideration. The superego is the ideal individual, one that makes perfect decisions with perfect outcomes.

8. According to existentialists, what is the key to the suffering of man?

Answer: emotions

Our emotions allow us to be sad. Happiness creates a fear of losing prosperity, fear leads to anger toward life's unjust ways, anger leads to hatred of life in general, and hatred leads to the suffering of the individual mind.

9. According to Kierkegaard man was blessed with the greatest gift, but unfortunately this gift generates emotions. What is this gift?

Answer: free will

Kierkegaared believed that free will led to making decisions, and these decisions created certain emotions.

10. Which of the following authors do not display themes from Existential Philosophers in their writing?

Answer: L. Frank Baum

L. Frank Baum wrote "The Wizard of Oz". Camus wrote "The Stranger", Dostoevsky wrote "Crime and Punishment", and Vonnegut wrote "Breakfast of Champions". Camus, Dostoevsky, and Vonnegut authored other existentialist works.

Source: Author lunarmercury

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor coolupway before going online.
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