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Political Philosophy Trivia Quiz

Some easy, some difficult -- from the ancients to postmodernism!

A multiple-choice quiz by LauraEmily. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
LauraEmily

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
10,303

Updated
Apr 17 24

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
11 / 20

Plays
3444

Last 3 plays: Guest 24 (19/20), Guest 188 (4/20), Guest 82 (4/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. This individual composed a lengthy work on the rearing of children, though he abandoned all of his illegitimate children to orphanages. Hint

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Georg Hegel

Jeremy Bentham

Herman Melville

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Question 2 of 20

2. A philosophic essay of his decided in the end that Sisyphus was indeed happy. Who was it? Hint

Frederich Nietzsche

Jean-Paul Sartre

Albert Camus

Fyodor Dostoyevski

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Question 3 of 20

3. What famous philosophical work deals with the allegory of the cave? Hint

The Apology

The Politics

The Republic

Thus Spake Zarathustra

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Question 4 of 20

4. What French thinker is responsible for 'Cogito, ergo sum'? Hint

Sartre

Descartes

Rousseau

Pascal

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Question 5 of 20

5. What American philosopher wrote 'A Theory of Justice'? Hint

David Hume

John Dewey

John Rawls

William James

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Question 6 of 20

6. What thinker is associated with the 'categorical imperative'? Hint

Bertrand Russell

Frederich Nietzsche

Immanuel Kant

Friedrich Engels

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Question 7 of 20

7. What school of thought ascribes to the notion that there exist as many competing realities as there are individuals, thus absolutes can not exist? Hint

Existentialism

Empiricism

Postmodernism

Nihilism

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Question 8 of 20

8. Who wrote the 'Second Treatise on Civil Government'?

Answer: ( Two words, or just surname)

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Question 9 of 20

9. Which of the following is not a Platonic Dialogue? Hint

Phaedo

The Apology

The Clouds

Crito

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Question 10 of 20

10. Who is most correctly referred to as the father of utilitarianism? Hint

Jeremy Bentham

John Stuart Mill

John Mill

Adam Smith

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Question 11 of 20

11. Who wrote 'Being and Nothingness'? Hint

Martin Heidegger

Simone de Beauvoir

Georg Hegel

Jean-Paul Sartre

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Question 12 of 20

12. What dramatist wrote the 'Philosophy of Existentialism'? Hint

Soren Kierkegaard

Gabriel Marcel

Will Durant

Euripedes

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Question 13 of 20

13. What communitarian wrote Democracy's Discontents? Hint

Francois Furet

Michael Sandel

Christopher Lasch

Robert Reich

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Question 14 of 20

14. Who wrote 'The End of History'? Hint

Francis Fukuyama

John Gray

Charles Taylor

Bertrand Russell

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Question 15 of 20

15. What name was given to those allied with Alexander Hamilton in support of a strong national government with weak states? Hint

Nationalists

Fascists

Isolationists

Federalists

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Question 16 of 20

16. What is the rule of the wealthy known as? Hint

aristocracy

plutocracy

democracy

oligarchy

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Question 17 of 20

17. Who wrote an Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding? Hint

David Hume

Adam Smith

John Locke

George Berkeley

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Question 18 of 20

18. 'Tis better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both' -- is in a great, and completely readable, work by whom? Hint

Bertrand Russell

Frederich Nietzsche

Nicolo Machiavelli

Thomas Hobbes

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Question 19 of 20

19. Who is known as the founder of the deconstructionalist school of thought? Hint

Michel Foucault

John Gray

Jacques Derrida

Martha Nussbaum

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Question 20 of 20

20. What philosopher fond of aphorisms suffered from syphilis and is often associated with the tenets of Nazi party? Hint

Frederich Nietzsche

Friedrich Engels

Karl Marx

Leon Trotsky

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Mar 28 2024 : Guest 24: 19/20
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Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This individual composed a lengthy work on the rearing of children, though he abandoned all of his illegitimate children to orphanages.

Answer: Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Rousseau may have been a hypocrite but his 'Social Contract' had a profound impact on political philosophy.

2. A philosophic essay of his decided in the end that Sisyphus was indeed happy. Who was it?

Answer: Albert Camus

The myth of Sisphyus stressed creation as salvation -- so while life may seem futile and beyond our control, remember that we have the power to create our own meaning.

3. What famous philosophical work deals with the allegory of the cave?

Answer: The Republic

The allegory of the cave explains how with limited experience we cannot truly know what is real, and those who have the means to attain enlightment owe it to the masses to pass on the knowledge.

4. What French thinker is responsible for 'Cogito, ergo sum'?

Answer: Descartes

It means 'I think, therefore I am' - in other words 'the only thing I can be certain of is my own existence'.

5. What American philosopher wrote 'A Theory of Justice'?

Answer: John Rawls

Rawl's defense of the welfare state is the antithesis of what the libertarians support.

6. What thinker is associated with the 'categorical imperative'?

Answer: Immanuel Kant

I Kant believe anyone would miss this one!

7. What school of thought ascribes to the notion that there exist as many competing realities as there are individuals, thus absolutes can not exist?

Answer: Postmodernism

For a good postmodern TV show, check out the syndicated 'Twin Peaks'

8. Who wrote the 'Second Treatise on Civil Government'?

Answer: John Locke

Locke was an elitist -- famous for condemning the poor as those less 'rational and industrious' than the successful.

9. Which of the following is not a Platonic Dialogue?

Answer: The Clouds

The Clouds was the work of Aristophanes.

10. Who is most correctly referred to as the father of utilitarianism?

Answer: Jeremy Bentham

J.S. Mill was raised in the utilitarian tradition by his father, John Mill, and his father's close friend, Jeremy Bentham. J.S. later had a breakdown and re-evaluated the purely quantitative utilitarianism and tempered it with a nice dose of the reality of the human experience.

11. Who wrote 'Being and Nothingness'?

Answer: Jean-Paul Sartre

I personally prefer his much more readable works of fiction -- like Nausea or No Exit.

12. What dramatist wrote the 'Philosophy of Existentialism'?

Answer: Gabriel Marcel

13. What communitarian wrote Democracy's Discontents?

Answer: Michael Sandel

Not a fun read!

14. Who wrote 'The End of History'?

Answer: Francis Fukuyama

15. What name was given to those allied with Alexander Hamilton in support of a strong national government with weak states?

Answer: Federalists

16. What is the rule of the wealthy known as?

Answer: plutocracy

This question is rather silly, since virtually all governments are ruled by the wealthy, regardless of what they claim!

17. Who wrote an Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding?

Answer: David Hume

Locke wrote the 'Essay concerning Human Understanding.'

18. 'Tis better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both' -- is in a great, and completely readable, work by whom?

Answer: Nicolo Machiavelli

This infamous line is found in the Prince, what is written should never be taken on face-value.

19. Who is known as the founder of the deconstructionalist school of thought?

Answer: Jacques Derrida

20. What philosopher fond of aphorisms suffered from syphilis and is often associated with the tenets of Nazi party?

Answer: Frederich Nietzsche

Source: Author LauraEmily

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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