Practice Exercises: Chapter 14

Group 1: The Practical Value of Philosophy

Apply the data and arguments regarding the utility of philosophy in the modern world.

1. Professional Advantage: Why do philosophy majors consistently score higher on the LSAT and GRE than almost any other major?

2. Intellectual Autonomy: How does the study of philosophy act as an “operating system” for the mind, rather than just a collection of facts?

3. Future-Proofing: According to the “Rise of Philosophy Majors” discussion, why is critical thinking considered a more stable career skill than specific technical training?

Group 2: Existentialism (Sartre & De Beauvoir)

Evaluate the concepts of freedom, essence, and bad faith.

4. Existence Precedes Essence: Explain the difference between the “essence” of a letter-opener and the “essence” of a human being.

5. Facticity: Which of the following is an example of facticity? (A) Your choice of major, (B) Your place of birth, (C) Your political beliefs.

6. Transcendence: How does transcendence allow a person to “climb over” their past?

7. Bad Faith: Provide an example of a student acting in “Bad Faith” regarding a missed deadline.

8. The Waiter Example: In Sartre’s famous example, why is the waiter acting in bad faith even though he is doing his job perfectly?

Group 3: The Absurd (Camus)

Analyze the human struggle for meaning.

9. The Definition of the Absurd: What are the two “colliding” forces that create the feeling of Absurdity?

10. Revolt: How does Camus suggest we respond to the realization that the universe is “silent” and provides no inherent meaning?

11. Sisyphus: Why does Camus conclude that we must imagine Sisyphus happy?

Group 4: Aesthetics

Evaluate the role of beauty and art in human flourishing.

12. Subjectivism vs. Objectivism: If you believe a painting is beautiful only because of its use of the “Golden Ratio” and symmetry, are you taking an Objectivist or Subjectivist stance?

13. Catharsis: According to Aristotle, what is the practical psychological benefit of engaging with tragic art?

14. Aesthetic Attitude: What does it mean to look at an object with a “disinterested” perspective?

15. Schopenhauer’s Escape: Why did Schopenhauer believe that art was one of the few ways to escape the “suffering of the Will”?

Group 5: Experiments in Consciousness

Apply philosophical practices to daily life.

16. Language Audit: How does changing “I have to” to “I choose to” combat the feeling of being an “object” of circumstance?

17. Obituary Test: Why is it philosophically useful to define yourself by Virtues rather than Job Titles?

Answer Key

Group 1: The Practical Value of Philosophy

1. Because philosophy requires Analytical Rigor, the ability to dismantle complex arguments, and the precision of formal logic—skills directly tested by these exams.

2. It provides the tools to evaluate, filter, and construct your own beliefs, making you the architect of your own mind rather than a passive recipient of external authority.

3. Technical skills can become obsolete as technology changes; however, Communication and Problem-Solving are universal skills that apply to any industry at any time.

Group 2: Existentialism

4. A letter-opener has a purpose (essence) before it is made. A human exists first and then creates their purpose through choices.

5. (B) Your place of birth. (Facticity includes things you cannot change).

6. It is the power of consciousness to project itself into the future and decide that the past does not dictate what one will do next.

7. Saying “I couldn’t help it, I’m just a procrastinator” treats procrastination as a fixed law of nature rather than a series of choices.

8. Because he is trying to “be” a waiter the way a rock “is” a rock; he is pretending his social role is a fixed essence to avoid the responsibility of his freedom.

Group 3: The Absurd

9. The human drive for Meaning and the “unreasonable silence” of a Meaningless Universe.

10. By “Revolting”—living passionately and creating your own values even while knowing they aren’t “written in the stars.”

11. Because Sisyphus finds joy in the struggle itself; by owning his rock, he makes the struggle his own and denies the gods the power to make him miserable.

Group 4: Aesthetics

12. Objectivist. (You are basing beauty on properties of the object).

13. Catharsis. It allows the viewer to purge emotions like pity and fear in a safe, controlled way.

14. It means appreciating a thing for its own sake, without wanting to possess it, use it, or gain a profit from it.

15. Because when we are absorbed in beauty, we forget our own desires and needs, providing a temporary rest from the constant “wanting” that causes human pain.

Group 5: Experiments in Consciousness

16. It shifts the perspective from Facticity (I am a victim of rules) to Transcendence (I am a free agent making a trade-off).

17. Job titles are external and can be taken away; virtues are Internal Values that define your character (essence) regardless of your circumstances.