Chapter 18 Quiz

The Meaning of Life
. Philosophers distinguish life's value or meaning from __________.

. One of the main impediments to thinking clearly about life's meaning is confusion about__________.

. The meaning or purpose that humans give to themselves is called __________ meaning.

. Internalists about meaning in life can be divided into two camps: subjectivists and__________.

. __________ is the classic example of a subjectivist regarding meaning in life.

. Pessimism about meaning in life is also called __________.

. Contemporary philosopher Julian Baggini claims that pessimists are guilty of __________.

. Lucretius argues that the meaning of life can be found in rational and prudent __________.

. According to Susan Wolf, meaning in life must consist of __________ and __________elements.

. Susan Wolf's view on meaning in life can be summarized in the slogan: "meaning arises when __________ meets __________."

. __________ argues that the notion of a God assigning a purpose to humans should be objectionable to believers and nonbelievers alike.

. __________ asserts that the length of one's life is irrelevant to the question of life's meaning.

. According to __________, the wretchedness of existence is proof life has no meaning.

. Tolstoy's later view of meaning can be classified as __________.

. According to Landau, __________ is one of the greatest obstacles to finding meaning in life.

. Arthur Schopenhauer was a pessimist who claimed life is meaningless.

. Before converting to Christianity, Tolstoy was what philosophers call an internalist on the question of the meaning of life.

. Lucretius holds that life can be meaningful even in a completely materialistic universe devoid of God.

. On an internalist view, life can be viewed as meaningful for persons if they come to see their goals or purposes as inherently valuable or worthwhile.

. An optimist is defined as a person who believes that God alone bestows meaning on life.

. Many people, including those who accept a religious worldview, assume that if life has no external meaning, it has no meaning period.

. Belshaw argues that life is meaningless because it is so brief and we are so insignificant compared to the vastness of the cosmos.

. According to Baggini, the idea of God creating people for a purpose is an affront to human dignity.

. Wolf argues that no human activity is worthwhile in itself.

. According to Landau, meaningful lives must transcend the common and the mundane.

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