MCQs on Existentialism
1. Who is often considered the precursor to existentialism, influencing later existentialist thinkers?
a) Soren Kierkegaard
b) Friedrich Nietzsche
c) Jean-Paul Sartre
d) Albert Camus
2. Existentialism emerged as a philosophical movement in the:
a) 17th century
b) 18th century
c) 19th century
d) 20th century
3. Which French philosopher is credited with coining the term “existentialism”?
a) Jean-Paul Sartre
b) Albert Camus
c) Simone de Beauvoir
d) Gabriel Marcel
4. The concept of “existence precedes essence” is a key tenet of existentialism and is associated with:
a) Friedrich Nietzsche
b) Jean-Paul Sartre
c) Martin Heidegger
d) Soren Kierkegaard
5. Albert Camus is best known for his philosophy of:
a) Absurdism
b) Nihilism
c) Objectivism
d) Essentialism
6. According to existentialism, human beings have:
a) Pre-determined destinies
b) Fixed moral values
c) Radical freedom
d) Immutable essences
7. Soren Kierkegaard’s concept of “leap of faith” is associated with:
a) Atheism
b) Religious existentialism
c) Nihilism
d) Absurdism
8. Jean-Paul Sartre’s influential work “Being and Nothingness” explores the concept of:
a) Authenticity
b) Anguish
c) Bad faith
d) Consciousness
9. The idea of “bad faith” in existentialism refers to:
a) Deceptive actions
b) Lack of sincerity with oneself
c) Immoral behavior
d) Absurdity of life
10. Simone de Beauvoir, a prominent existentialist philosopher, is known for her work on:
a) Phenomenology
b) Feminism
c) Logical positivism
d) Absurdism
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11. Existentialist philosophy is often associated with a focus on:
a) Objective reality
b) Subjective experience
c) Mathematical logicMCQs on Existentialism
d) Historical determinism
12. Martin Heidegger, an existentialist philosopher, emphasized the concept of:
a) Authenticity
b) AbsurdityMCQs on Existentialism
c) The eternal recurrence
d) Passive nihilism
13. Friedrich Nietzsche’s famous proclamation “God is dead” is associated with:
a) Nihilism
b) AbsurdismMCQs on Existentialism
c) Existentialism
d) Essentialism
14. According to existentialism, human existence is characterized by:
a) Certainty and predictability
b) Isolation and responsibility
c) Absence of free will
d) Deterministic fate
15. The idea of “existence precedes essence” challenges traditional philosophical notions by asserting that:
a) Essence precedes existence
b) Existence is predetermined
c) Individuals create their own essence through choices
d) Essence is fixed and unchangeable
16. The central idea of Albert Camus’ philosophy is expressed through the concept of:
a) The will to power
b) The eternal recurrenceMCQs on Existentialism
c) The absurd
d) The superman
17. Jean-Paul Sartre famously stated that “existence precedes essence.” What does this statement imply?
a) Human essence is determined by society
b) Human actions define their essence
c) Essence precedes existenceMCQs on Existentialism
d) Essence is fixed and unalterable
18. Simone de Beauvoir’s influential work “The Second Sex” is a foundational text in:
a) Existentialism
b) Nihilism
c) ObjectivismMCQs on Existentialism
d) Phenomenology
19. The idea of “angst” or existential anxiety is often associated with which existentialist philosopher?
a) Jean-Paul Sartre
b) Friedrich Nietzsche
c) Soren Kierkegaard
d) Martin Heidegger
20. According to Sartre, individuals experience “bad faith” when they:
a) Are dishonest with others
b) Deny their freedom and responsibility
c) Embrace religious beliefs
d) Reject societal norms
21. In Kierkegaard’s philosophy, the “knight of faith” represents:
a) A skeptical individual
b) A religious believer
c) A nihilistic thinker
d) A deterministic fatalist
22. The idea of “throwness” in Heidegger’s philosophy refers to:
a) The arbitrary nature of existence
b) The inevitability of death
c) The subjective experience of time
d) The human condition of finding oneself in a particular situation
23. The existentialist notion that “existence is absurd” suggests that:
a) Life lacks purpose or meaning
b) Life is predictable and rational
c) Life is determined by external forces
d) Life is governed by objective values
24. Simone de Beauvoir’s famous statement “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman” is central to her exploration of:
a) Absurdism
b) Feminist existentialism
c) Nihilism
d) Phenomenology
25. Heidegger’s concept of “Dasein” refers to:
a) The essence of human existence
b) The will to power
c) The eternal recurrence
d) The absurdity of life
26. According to existentialism, the individual’s search for meaning is:
a) Objective and universal
b) Subjective and personal
c) Fixed and predetermined
d) External and deterministic
27. Kierkegaard’s concept of the “aesthetic stage” is characterized by:
a) The pursuit of pleasure and immediate gratification
b) Ethical responsibilities and dutiesMCQs on Existentialism
c) Religious devotion and faith
d) The quest for objective knowledge
28. The philosophical novel “Nausea” by Jean-Paul Sartre explores themes related to:
a) The absurdity of existence
b) The pursuit of happinessMCQs on Existentialism
c) The essence of being
d) The eternal recurrence
29. The concept of “authenticity” in existentialism is closely related to:
a) Conformity to societal norms
b) Sincerity and genuine self-expressionMCQs on Existentialism
c) Rejection of free will
d) Embrace of deterministic fate
30. Nihilism, often contrasted with existentialism, is characterized by:
a) Belief in the inherent meaning of life
b) Rejection of moral values
c) Embrace of subjective experience
d) Faith in objective truths
31. In existentialism, the concept of “thrownness” refers to:
a) The individual’s responsibility for their actions
b) The arbitrary nature of existence
c) The pursuit of authenticity
d) The rejection of free will
32. The existentialist emphasis on individual responsibility suggests that:
a) Morality is universally determined
b) Individuals are bound by societal norms
c) Choices have consequences and moral significance
d) Existence is predetermined by external forces
33. Kierkegaard’s pseudonymous works, such as “Fear and Trembling,” often explore themes related to:
a) The pursuit of pleasure
b) The meaning of life
c) The nature of objective reality
d) The absurdity of existence
34. The “will to power,” a concept associated with Friedrich Nietzsche, explores the idea of:
a) Rejecting free will
b) Pursuing pleasure
c) Overcoming challenges and obstacles
d) Embracing nihilism
35. In existentialism, the notion of “absurdity” refers to the:
a) Lack of purpose or meaning in life
b) Inherent rationality of existence
c) Objective values governing human actions
d) Existence of universal truths
36. Existentialism is often critiqued for being:
a) Too optimistic about human freedom
b) Overly focused on objective reality
c) Individualistic and neglectful of social structures
d) Embracing determinism
37. According to existentialism, individuals are condemned to be free, which implies:
a) Freedom is an illusion
b) Freedom is a burden and source of anguish
c) Freedom is objective and universal
d) Freedom is pre-determined by external forces
38. The concept of “eternal recurrence” is associated with the philosophy of:
a) Sartre
b) CamusMCQs on Existentialism
c) Heidegger
d) Nietzsche
39. Existentialism places a strong emphasis on:
a) Objectivity
b) Subjectivity
c) DeterminismMCQs on Existentialism
d) Essentialism
40. Nietzsche’s idea of the “overman” or “superman” suggests:
a) The pursuit of pleasure
b) The rejection of free will
c) The overcoming of traditional values
d) The embrace of nihilism
41. Existentialist literature often explores themes of:
a) Objective reality
b) Religious dogma
c) Individual experience and choice
d) Universal moral principles
42. The existentialist idea that “existence is prior to essence” challenges traditional views that:
a) Essence precedes existence
b) Existence is predetermined
c) Individuals have fixed essences
d) Essence is created through choices
43. The existentialist view of the human condition is often characterized by:
a) Certainty and predictability
b) Radical freedom and responsibility
c) Objective morality
d) Absence of individual choice
44. The concept of “living in bad faith” in existentialism refers to:
a) Acting in a morally upright manner
b) Embracing one’s authentic self
c) Denying one’s freedom and responsibility
d) Pursuing happiness
45. Existentialism is often associated with a critique of:
a) Individualism
b) Nihilism
c) Religious dogma
d) Democratic governance
46. The existentialist concept of “angst” or existential anxiety arises from:
a) The pursuit of pleasure
b) Fear of the unknown
c) Rejection of free will
d) Embrace of objective truths
47. In existentialism, the idea that “God does not exist, and we have to face all the consequences” reflects the philosophy of:
a) Soren Kierkegaard
b) Friedrich Nietzsche
c) Jean-Paul Sartre
d) Albert Camus
48. Existentialism is often characterized by a rejection of:
a) Free will
b) Individual responsibility
c) Objective truth
d) Determinism
49. The existentialist perspective on death is often associated with:
a) Fear and avoidance
b) Acceptance and transcendence
c) Belief in an afterlife
d) Rejection of mortality
50. Existentialism emphasizes the importance of:
a) Objective moral codes
b) Individual choice and responsibility
c) Collective identity
d) Conformity to societal norms
Answer
1. a) Soren Kierkegaard
2. c) 19th century
3. d) Gabriel Marcel
4. b) Jean-Paul SartreMCQs on Existentialism
5. a) Absurdism
6. c) Radical freedom
7. b) Religious existentialism
8. d) Consciousness
9. b) Lack of sincerity with oneself
10. b) Feminism
11. b) Subjective experience
12. a) Authenticity
13. a) Nihilism
14. b) Isolation and responsibility
15. c) Individuals create their own essence through choices
16. c) The absurd
17. b) Human actions define their essence
18. b) Feminism
19. c) Soren Kierkegaard
20. b) Deny their freedom and responsibility
21. b) A religious believer
22. d) The human condition of finding oneself in a particular situation
23. a) Life lacks purpose or meaning
24. b) Feminist existentialism
25. a) The essence of human existence
26. b) Subjective and personal
27. a) The pursuit of pleasure and immediate gratification
28. a) The absurdity of existence
29. b) Sincerity and genuine self-expression
30. b) Rejection of moral values
31. b) The arbitrary nature of existence
32. c) Choices have consequences and moral significance
33. a) The pursuit of pleasure
34. c) Overcoming challenges and obstacles
35. a) Lack of purpose or meaning in life
36. c) Individualistic and neglectful of social structures
37. b) Freedom is a burden and source of anguish
38. d) Nietzsche
39. b) Subjectivity
40. c) The overcoming of traditional values
41. c) Individual experience and choice
42. c) Individuals have fixed essences
43. b) Radical freedom and responsibilityMCQs on Existentialism
44. c) Denying one’s freedom and responsibility
45. c) Religious dogma
46. b) Fear of the unknown
47. c) Jean-Paul SartreMCQs on Existentialism
48. d) Determinism
49. b) Acceptance and transcendence
50. b) Individual choice and responsibility
