"The Absurd" Self-Quiz

. For Nagel, why isn't the fact that nothing we do now will matter in one million years a source of absurdity?

Because brevity is not a source of absurdity

Because it isn't true

Because that fact won't matter in one million years

None of the above

. Why is the fact that we're going to die a possible source of absurdity?

Because it means all chains of justification must end arbitrarily

Because it means nothing we do now matters

Because there is no final end to the things we do

(a) and (c)

. Which of the following is a real source of absurdity, according to Nagel?

That nothing we do now will matter in one million years

That we are merely tiny specks in an infinite vastness of universe

That we will necessarily die

None of the above

. When do we see absurdity in ordinary life, according to Nagel?

When we reflect on situations

When a situation includes a conspicuous discrepancy between pretension/aspiration and reality

When we come into contact with our own mortality

When we think about how small we are relative to the universe

. Which of the following best describes why Nagel thinks life is absurd?

Because we are condemned to death

Because our hopes are often in disagreement with the world

Because we must take our lives seriously, but we can always regard everything as open to doubt

Because we must take an external view of ourselves

. For Nagel, the brevity of life is a convincing source of absurdity.

True

False

. Nagel disagrees with how Camus recommends we respond to absurdity—noble defiance.

True

False

. According to Nagel, life is absurd simply because we can take an external view of ourselves.

True

False

Quiz Content