Preliminaries: Doing Philosophy

Question 1

His mission was to coax us, to irritate us, and to provoke us into making the effort necessary to overcome our reticence to face one of life’s most difficult but rewarding tasks

Answer 1

Kierkegaard

Question 2

One of life’s most difficult but rewarding tasks

Answer 2

Honest, personal reflection

Question 3

According to Kierkegaard, what can philosophy give us ?

Answer 3

Self-understanding

Question 4

______ involves knowing who I really am apart from the masks I present to others, the social roles I fulfil, or the labels and descriptions imposed on me by my society and my peers.

Answer 4

Self-understanding

Question 5

Philosophy could be viewed as ______

Answer 5

“aerobics for the human mind.”

Question 6

He thought that his greatest contribution to society would be to provide the problems to everyone’s answers

Answer 6

Kierkegaard

Question 7

First Definition of Philosophy

Answer 7

Philosophy is the search for self-understanding.

Question 8

Second Definition of Philosophy

Answer 8

Philosophy is the love and pursuit of wisdom

Question 9

Third Definition of Philosophy

Answer 9

Philosophy is the asking of questions about the meaning of our most basic concepts

Question 10

Fourth Definition of Philosophy

Answer 10

Philosophy is the search for fundamental beliefs that are rationally justified

Question 11

The first one to call

himself a philosopher

Answer 11

Pythagoras

Question 12

He made the term “philosopher” famous

Answer 12

Socrates