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   Philosophers  Psychologists Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
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Philosophers & Psychologists Trivia

Philosophers & Psychologists Trivia Quizzes

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The leading lights of the worlds of psychology, philosophy and sociology. Their pioneering theories, their towering achievements and their fascinating lives are all laid bare in this section.
35 quizzes and 490 trivia questions.
Sub-Categories:
1.
  Immanuel Kant   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about Immanuel Kant and his philosophy.
Average, 10 Qns, Shadowmyst2004, Oct 08 23
Average
Shadowmyst2004
Oct 08 23
103 plays
2.
Best of the Best  Greek Philosophers
  Best of the Best: Greek Philosophers   top quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
Philosophy is defined as the "study of general and fundamental problems", and has been divided into many different areas of inquiry. What do you know about the ancient Greek "lovers of wisdom" who made the first contributions to the field of philosophy?
Easier, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Jun 15 23
Easier
ponycargirl editor
Jun 15 23
726 plays
3.
  Who Should I Call?   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I need help! My life is going haywire and I need some expert advice. Who should I call?
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, May 16 18
Average
ponycargirl editor
May 16 18
2342 plays
4.
  Socrates: An Examined Life   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Socrates once said, "An unexamined life is not worth living". What do you know about the life of one of the greatest thinkers the world has ever known?
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Mar 23 19
Average
ponycargirl editor
Mar 23 19
550 plays
5.
  Here Are My Thoughts on the Subject   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here are ten famous philosophers who have had great influence on mankind. They come from many countries and lived at different times in history. Let's take a look at some of their thoughts.
Easier, 10 Qns, dcpddc478, Jun 09 23
Easier
dcpddc478
Jun 09 23
507 plays
6.
  Putting the Horse Before Descartes   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
René Descartes. Whether you call him a mathematician, a scientist or a philosopher is entirely up to you, but, we can be sure that he was French. So, put the horse before Descartes and see where you can ride off to. Good luck.
Average, 10 Qns, LeoDaVinci, Sep 15 21
Average
LeoDaVinci editor
Sep 15 21
182 plays
7.
  Utilitarians and Consequentialists    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
As a race, what actions should we take and what should the consequences of those actions be? This quiz explores the views of some of the most renowned consequentialists over time.
Average, 10 Qns, pollucci19, Apr 03 11
Average
pollucci19 gold member
458 plays
8.
  A to Z of Philosophers - 'B'   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Second quiz in the series of the lives of philosophers - alphabetically of course. Next up the letter 'B' and Francis Bacon, Jeremy Bentham and Boethius. Enjoy!
Average, 10 Qns, jonnowales, Feb 03 09
Average
jonnowales gold member
512 plays
9.
  A to Z of Philosophers - 'A'   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the first in a series of quizzes that looks at the lives and beliefs of a plethora of philosophers. First up the letter 'A' and St Anselm, St Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle. Enjoy!
Tough, 10 Qns, jonnowales, Dec 30 08
Tough
jonnowales gold member
482 plays
10.
  Catchphrases of Philosophers    
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Match the philosopher with their catchphrase or quote.
Average, 10 Qns, nekayah, Jul 18 21
Average
nekayah
Jul 18 21
236 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Who said: "There is no greater delight than to be conscious of sincerity on self-examination"?

From Quiz "Mencius and Epicurus"




11.
  Philosophers à la Monty Python   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
From the film "The Meaning of Life", to the "Philosophers' Football Match" sketch and the "Bruces' Philosophers Song" sung by the Bruces at the University of Woolloomooloo, Monty Python's view of the world of philosophy was unique, to say the least.
Average, 10 Qns, reedy, Oct 14 12
Average
reedy gold member
534 plays
12.
  Philosophers From Mexico   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Mexico has produced several important philosophers. Can you name a few? Good luck!
Average, 10 Qns, Lpez, Jan 17 15
Average
Lpez gold member
172 plays
13.
  Still More about Philosophers    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is dedicated to my comrade-in-arms in the trade Ingilby, hoping he will gather as few points with this quiz as I did with his quizzes, but fearing the contrary.
Tough, 10 Qns, Oblomov, Jan 19 14
Tough
Oblomov
719 plays
14.
  Famous Philosophers    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Test your knowledge of the most famous philosophers.
Average, 10 Qns, shusem81, Sep 28 10
Average
shusem81
3069 plays
15.
  Philosophers from the Age of Enlightenment    
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Match the concept or phrase with the appropriate 17th or 18th century philosopher. The ten philosophers will be presented in the order of their dates of death.
Average, 10 Qns, chessart, Oct 18 19
Average
chessart gold member
Oct 18 19
226 plays
16.
  Philosophers Behaving Badly   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The humorous side of some of the world's greatest minds.
Difficult, 10 Qns, ingilby, Jan 14 14
Difficult
ingilby
2144 plays
17.
  Philosophers In Their Own Words   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In lieu of proper questions, I have provided three quotes from each philosopher which reveal the character of their unique ideologies.
Tough, 10 Qns, unearth, Feb 28 11
Tough
unearth
1603 plays
18.
  Hume or Me?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Can you cull the real answer from my cunning deceptions in this true/false quiz? Is it Hume or Me?
Average, 10 Qns, uglybird, Feb 18 04
Average
uglybird
448 plays
19.
  Philosophers and Their World    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about the social and historical context of great philosophers
Average, 10 Qns, wwtbam1, Jun 09 23
Average
wwtbam1
Jun 09 23
392 plays
20.
  English Philosophers    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Some interesting trivia regarding English and Scottish fellows...
Difficult, 10 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Mar 08 11
Difficult
thejazzkickazz gold member
825 plays
21.
  Philosophers and Their Oddities    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Thought that it might be fun to look at what some famous historical figures got up to in their spare time. Hope you have fun!
Tough, 10 Qns, pavr, Sep 08 12
Tough
pavr
852 plays
22.
  Mencius and Epicurus    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
The Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270) and the Chinese philosopher Mencius (371?-289?) were contemporaries, but lived too far apart to know each other. But if they would have met, they would have agreed on many issues.
Tough, 15 Qns, woordenboer, Jun 30 03
Tough
woordenboer
343 plays
23.
  French Philosophers    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
French philosophy is perhaps not as systematic as German or English philosophy, but is no less intriguing. I think St. Simon and Voltaire are my favorite philosophers from France...what about yourself?
Difficult, 10 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Mar 25 03
Difficult
thejazzkickazz gold member
674 plays
24.
  Background of Confucianism    
Multiple Choice
 5 Qns
Here's a pretty easy quiz on the background of the Chinese philosophy/religion of Confucianism.
Tough, 5 Qns, TeamRNL, Mar 28 06
Tough
TeamRNL
437 plays
25.
  Impossible Famous Philosophers Trivia    
Multiple Choice
 5 Qns
Listed are some famous Philosophy movements. Do you know who started these fads?
Impossible, 5 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Mar 25 03
Impossible
thejazzkickazz gold member
1783 plays
26.
  Philosophers    
Multiple Choice
 5 Qns
A short quiz on philosophers.
Very Difficult, 5 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Oct 25 03
Very Difficult
thejazzkickazz gold member
1505 plays

Philosophers & Psychologists Trivia Questions

1. René Descartes was born in a small town in the Kingdom of France called La Haye en Touraine. When he was 22, Descartes enlisted in which army?

From Quiz
Putting the Horse Before Descartes

Answer: Dutch States Army

René Descartes was born in 1596 and his mother dies shortly after his birth, so Descartes was not given much of a chance to live. Despite this, he survived and grew, especially in knowledge, as he was considered wan and sickly. Nevertheless, his ambition was to become an army officer, so he enlisted as a mercenary in the Dutch States Army commanded by Maurice, Prince of Orange. When in the army, Descartes was selected to study military engineering. This furthered his interest in math.

2. In what city-state was Socrates born?

From Quiz Socrates: An Examined Life

Answer: Athens

Socrates was born in 469 B.C. and was a major contributor to the period in history known as the Golden Age of Athens. His father, Sophroniscus, was a stonemason, and his mother, Phaenarete, was a midwife.

3. Which great philosopher was so slow to develop that he was called "The Dumb Ox" during his childhood?

From Quiz Philosophers and Their World

Answer: Thomas Aquinas

Thomas was big for his age, and didn't talk much, but when he got started, he wrote some of the foundational philosophy of Catholic thought, by weaving Aristotle's logical and natural philosophy into the Christian theology.

4. Which philosopher, whom Monty Python stated was 'a real pissant who was very rarely stable', published his major work "Critique of Pure Reason" in 1781?

From Quiz Philosophers à la Monty Python

Answer: Immanuel Kant

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was born in Königsberg, Prussia in 1724. His philosophy of mind, epistemology, and ethics have come to be known as Kantianism - based on the concepts of duty and rationality over emotion. In the song, the reference to Kant being rarely stable was a nod to his theory of a stable universe. The University of Königsberg, where Kant taught, was renamed the Kaliningrad State University after Soviet annexation in 1945. In 2005, the university was again renamed, this time in honour of Kant: Immanuel Kant State University of Russia.

5. Who is considered to be the founder of utilitarianism, a movement that advocates that any action should be undertaken with a view to maximise happiness?

From Quiz Utilitarians and Consequentialists

Answer: Jeremy Bentham

In his work "The Principles of Morals and Legislation" (1789) Bentham argued that man is controlled by two masters - pleasure and pain. As a consequence, man should, therefore, look to take actions that provide the greatest pleasure. To extend this to the broader community, these actions should provide the greatest pleasure to the greatest number of people. Bentham takes this hedonistic approach further by providing a list of twelve pains and ten pleasures covering man's spiritual and physical aspects. His theory extended that these actions could be turned into an equation to provide them with a 'happiness factor' on which they could be assessed. Bentham's plan was not without criticism, the most poignant being that justice would be much the poorer under such a regime - for example, it would be considered acceptable to condone lying if the outcome of that lie would produce a greater good.

6. The goslings near my lake have just hatched and are waddling around. One of the babies hatched later than all the others, and instead of following its mother, it is following my dog! Who should I call for help?

From Quiz Who Should I Call?

Answer: Konrad Lorenz

Konrad Lorenz described a process known as imprinting, which is a sudden, virtually permanent learning process that occurs in geese during their critical period of development. During this time a gosling will attach to the first thing they see that moves - a dog, a cow, or it can even be a box being pulled along by a string. After attachment, the baby will follow whatever they attach to, and run toward it when they are frightened. His advice: Don't worry. This is perfectly normal for geese.

7. "God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him." "I teach you the Overman. Man is something that shall be overcome." "Whatever is done from love always occurs beyond good and evil." Which philosopher's quotes are these?

From Quiz Philosophers In Their Own Words

Answer: Friedrich Nietzsche

Nietzsche remains one of the most controversial and misunderstood geniuses in history. A great number of human tragedies such as the Holocaust and the Columbine shootings have been linked to his philosophy and yet anyone who reads his words finds wisdom, hope and a profound love of life that are light years away from the nihilistic atrocities associated with him.

8. What is the official name nowadays of the town in which Immanuel Kant lived throughout the greater part of his life?

From Quiz Still More about Philosophers

Answer: Kaliningrad

It was the former East-Prussian city of Königsberg. The Russians having after the Second World War annexed the city, renaimed it after Kalinin, who as president ruled the Soviet Union from 1919 to 1946. Better said: who as president did NOT rule the Soviet Union. (That was done by another man, whose name I have forgotten.) Wroclaw is the former German town of Breslau in Silesia, now Polish. Praha is known to the Anglo- and Gallophones as Prague.

9. Who said: "There is no greater delight than to be conscious of sincerity on self-examination"?

From Quiz Mencius and Epicurus

Answer: Mencius

Mencius VII-1, IV:2 (translation: James Legge). Mencius' only known work is a collection of sayings bearing his own name. In later centuries, millions of Chinese revered this follower of Confucius as a secular saint, second only to Confucius himself.

10. Many believe that Socrates was the first Western philosopher, but he was not! Who was the first philosopher?

From Quiz Famous Philosophers

Answer: Thales

Thales believed that the fundamental element was water. He lived in Miletus, Asia Minor.

11. This highly renowned philosopher one day decided that as he was pronouncing on the state on mankind, perhaps he ought to leave his home town and see what was outside! He lived in Koenigsberg, Prussia (today Kaliningrad, Russia). Who was he?

From Quiz Philosophers and Their Oddities

Answer: Kant

He never ventured more than few miles from his native city.

12. Confucius is also known by what name?

From Quiz Background of Confucianism

Answer: Kongzi

Confucius is a Latinized name, but in Chinese he is known as Kongzi, or Kongfuzi, which signifies that he is a teacher. He was born Kong Qiu, and also is known by the stylized literary name Kong Zhongni!

13. Which philosopher spent the last ten years of his life insane after being discovered in Turin embracing a horse?

From Quiz Philosophers Behaving Badly

Answer: Nietzsche

Famous for believing that pain was good for you, Nietzsche longed for a girlfriend but with his usual self-sabotage grew a fearsome moustache which put them off. After the horse frolics he was discovered pacing around his hotel room shouting that he was Jesus, then Napoleon, then Buddha... apparently he was upset by seeing the horse flogged. Maybe he grabbed hold of it in a gesture of solidarity, whispering in its ear: "Don't worry - whatever does not kill us makes us stronger!"

14. What philosopher used a monster from the Bible as a title for his most well-remembered work?

From Quiz English Philosophers

Answer: Hobbes

The commonwealth that Hobbes talks about is somewhat similar to the laws of Dharmas, laws generally created in order to control the impulses from the chakras. Perhaps the leviathan is the great beast that keeps all creatures in place. "Since men are continually in competition for honor and dignity, which these creatures are not, and consequently amongst men there ariseth on that ground, envy and hatred, and finally war." The 'leviathan' is thus the beastly Titan composed of the civitas that rules over all men.

15. From which Greek philosopher did Pythagoras and his brotherhood obtain the ideas associated with the Dialectics of Opposing forces?

From Quiz Famous Philosophers

Answer: Alcmaeon of Croton

16. Which social thinker postulated the philosopheme 'The World began without man and it will end without him'?

From Quiz Philosophers

Answer: Levi-Strauss

17. In what year was Immanuel Kant born?

From Quiz Immanuel Kant

Answer: 1724

Kant lived from 1724-1804. He was a German philosopher who is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in Western philosophy. Kant made significant contributions to various areas of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, and political philosophy.

18. Socrates married a much younger woman. What was her name?

From Quiz Socrates: An Examined Life

Answer: Xanthippe

Some sources say that Xanthippe might have been as much as forty years younger than Socrates. Together they had three sons, Lamprocles, Sophroniscus, and Menexenus. There is evidence that one of his friends believed that Socrates should flee the city rather than choose the hemlock because he would not have to leave his family behind that way. Xanthippe is portrayed as a devoted wife and mother, although one source quotes Socrates as saying she was "the hardest to get along with of all the women there are." The quote is a bit misleading, however, because Socrates also said that he enjoyed her argumentative spirit.

19. Which philosopher was selected by a great king to be tutor to his son, who became one of the great conquerors of history?

From Quiz Philosophers and Their World

Answer: Aristotle

Aristotle was Alexander the Great's tutor in the ancient Greek disciplines of art, rhetoric, philosophy. Funny that Alexander took such a military turn.

20. According to Monty Python, this author of "Being and Time" was a 'boozy beggar who could think you under the table'. Who was he?

From Quiz Philosophers à la Monty Python

Answer: Martin Heidegger

Martin Heidegger happened to be the only philosopher in Monty Python's "Bruces' Philosophers Song" who was still living when it was written. Born in Germany in 1889, he lived until 1976 (the song was first released on 1973's "Matching Tie and Handkerchief" album). Heidegger was known for his work in phenomenology (the study of the structures of subjective experience and consciousness), existentialism (everything starts with the experiences of the individual), and philosophical hermeneutics - a field that Heidegger pioneered.

21. Which British philosopher, a pupil of Jeremy Bentham, endorsed a 'Greatest Happiness' principle which held, at its core, a hierarchy of pleasures?

From Quiz Utilitarians and Consequentialists

Answer: John Stuart Mill

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) took the view that intellectual pursuits held a greater degree of happiness than the mere contentment one found in physical pleasures. Accordingly, man should first direct his actions toward the intellectual. He summarised this in his, now famous, line 'better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied'.

22. Who said: "Between father and son, there should be no reproving admonitions to what is good. Such reproofs lead to alienation, and there is nothing more inauspicious than alienation"?

From Quiz Mencius and Epicurus

Answer: Mencius

Mencius IV-1, XVIII:4. Remarkable words for a conservative moralist. Mencius also called procreation the first duty owed to one's parents, so that marrying without their permission would be better than not marrying at all.

23. Which philosopher created the earliest known works studying Logic?

From Quiz Famous Philosophers

Answer: Aristotle

Aristotle's Logic remained unchanged until Bertrand Russell (20th century) improved upon Aristotle's work.

24. Which Austrian genius was originally an engineer, but decided that philosophy interested him so much, that he traveled to Cambridge and after only an essay and interview, was accepted to study there?

From Quiz Philosophers and Their Oddities

Answer: Wittgenstein

He also worked as a hospital porter in London during the war, but also spent much of his life in the Norwegian fjords, which he loved.

25. The most famous disciple of Confucius was who?

From Quiz Background of Confucianism

Answer: Mengzi

Mengzi was Confucius' most famous disciple, author of the "Mengzi," one of the four most important books of Confucianism.

26. This philosopher would spend all day in bed. When callers enquired what he was doing he would reply: "Thinking..."

From Quiz Philosophers Behaving Badly

Answer: Descartes

Descartes' last position was at the court of Queen Christina of Sweden. Unfortunately he was expected to teach her as early as 5 o'clock in the morning... this is perhaps one of the reasons for his death in Stockholm of pneumonia in 1650.

27. Who was the philosopher that is said to have died from 'catching a cold' whilst trying to prove that refrigeration could prevent food spoilage?

From Quiz English Philosophers

Answer: Bacon

One of the most intelligent and well respected men of science and philosophy, but he was no Birdseye!

28. Which German philosopher elaborated on the Concept of Alienation?

From Quiz Famous Philosophers

Answer: Hegel

29. Which poet of the Tel Quel tried to create a visual equivalent with words?

From Quiz Philosophers

Answer: Ponge

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