Chapter 53 Self Quiz

. Vitrano regards Taylor's and Wolf's views as

capturing part of the truth.

suitable for appropriately disposed people.

totally misguided, though well-intended.

predicated on the same mistake.

. Vitrano argues that Wolf is mistaken in thinking that people mostly agree about which

lives are happy.

activities are enjoyable.

activities are objectively valuable.

people are admirable.

. Vitrano suggests that Wolf might say an activity is worthwhile only if a person takes it seriously. What is Vitrano's response?

Then, the same activity could be meaningful or not, depending on one's motive.

Some activities cannot be taken seriously.

Fun activities are never taken seriously.

Some activities are worthwhile even if not taken seriously.

. Vitrano argues that the notion of objective value _______ Wolf's theory.

is not important to

is irrelevant to

strengthens

weakens

. Without the idea of objective value, one could simply say that a life one finds enjoyable is the same as a meaningful life. What is Vitrano's objection to defining meaningful lives this way?

A life of enjoyment may be too selfish and morally deficient to count as meaningful.

Why call it meaningful rather than just saying that it is happy or pleasant?

The idea of objective value is a necessary part of the definition of meaningfulness.

Different people may find different lives enjoyable.

. Vitrano thinks there are problems with both Taylor's and Wolf's accounts of meaningful lives.

True

False

. Vitrano holds that most people agree on which activities are objectively valuable.

True

False

. According to Vitrano, Wolf's theory is problematic because it relies on the notion of objective value, which is not explained.

True

False

. Vitrano objects to Taylor's theory because it counts any happy life as meaningful.

True

False

. Vitrano objects to Taylor's theory because Taylor incorrectly thinks that meaningfulness means more than contentment.

True

False

Quiz Content