Exam 13: The Meaning of Life

Wolf claims that, when thinking about Scheffler's doomsday scenario, rationality gives us our lives back and restores meaning and value to the activities around which we fashion our lives. What does she mean by this and is she right? Explain and defend your answer.

How would you react to the prospect of the earth's imminent destruction? Is it the same or different to your attitude toward the earth's eventual destruction in the distant future? Explain your answer.

Choose one piece of advice that Epictetus gives and that you disagree with. Explain why you disagree.

Socrates drank

One sign of active engagement is

According to Vitrano, the obvious problem with Wolf's position is that it lacks a

Explain Epictetus's distinction between things in one's power and things not in one's power. How does this distinction play out in his instructions on how to live? Do you agree?

Sisyphus was condemned by the gods to build a great temple on Mount Olympus.

Wolf's view of a meaningful life is based on the worthiness of one's activities.

Frankfurt claims that things like music, friendship, and creative activity are valued, in part, for their intrinsic value. Is Frankfurt right about this? If so, can you think of any other activities that are intrinsically valuable?

Taylor equates a meaningful life with one's personal satisfaction, regardless of activity.

Do you agree with Taylor that objective meaning requires that life have a point? Explain.

Wolf believes that if the eventual extinction of humanity does not render our present activities meaningless, then neither does a more imminent extinction.

In this dialogue Crito wants Socrates to

Frankfurt argues that some of the things that are most important to us may continue to matter regardless of the existence of the afterlife because of

According to Epictetus, one's master is

Wolf claims that if the fact that humans will eventually die out does not render many important activities meaningless then the prospect of a more imminent extinction does not either. Does Wolf make a convincing case for this claim in your view? Why or why not?

What does Wolf mean by a "project of worth"? Do you agree with her that this requires objective values? Explain.

According to Scheffler, the prospect of human life ending shortly after our own deaths would make all our current projects and activities seem less important.

Epictetus claims that we should not be concerned with what is not in our power.