Questions & Answers
Browse all 20 questions from the
Introduction to Existentialism study set below.
Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.
1
Which French philosopher is widely considered the central figure of 20th-century existentialism?
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A
Jean-Paul Sartre
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B
Immanuel Kant
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C
René Descartes
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D
John Locke
2
What is the core existentialist slogan popularized by Jean-Paul Sartre?
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A
I think, therefore I am
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B
Existence precedes essence
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C
Life is a dream
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D
Knowledge is power
3
Which 19th-century philosopher is famous for the statement 'God is dead'?
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A
Friedrich Nietzsche
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B
Søren Kierkegaard
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C
Albert Camus
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D
Martin Heidegger
4
Who is often referred to as the 'father of existentialism' for his focus on individual subjectivity?
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A
Søren Kierkegaard
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B
Karl Marx
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C
Sigmund Freud
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D
Arthur Schopenhauer
5
Albert Camus is famous for his essay comparing the struggle of existence to which mythological character?
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A
Sisyphus
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B
Hercules
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C
Odysseus
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D
Prometheus
6
Existentialism emphasizes that individuals have the freedom to define their own what?
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A
Purpose
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B
Genetics
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C
Ancestry
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D
Geography
7
Which term do existentialists use to describe the feeling of deep anxiety or dread regarding human freedom?
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A
Angst
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B
Euphoria
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C
Apathy
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D
Nostalgia
8
Simone de Beauvoir, a prominent existentialist, is best known for writing which influential feminist text?
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A
The Second Sex
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B
The Republic
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C
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
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D
The Feminine Mystique
9
In existentialism, what does the concept of 'authenticity' primarily refer to?
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A
Living in accordance with one's own values
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B
Copying the behaviors of others
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C
Following religious laws strictly
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D
Obeying the government
10
Which of these themes is most central to existentialist literature?
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A
Individual choice and responsibility
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B
The predictability of history
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C
The perfection of human logic
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D
The biological evolution of man
11
Martin Heidegger, an existentialist thinker, is famous for his major work titled what?
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A
Being and Time
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B
The Social Contract
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C
Leviathan
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D
Critique of Pure Reason
12
What do existentialists typically believe about inherent, pre-defined human 'meaning'?
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A
It does not exist
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B
It is written in the stars
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C
It is determined by social status
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D
It is provided by biology
13
Which existentialist thinker famously stated that 'Man is condemned to be free'?
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A
Jean-Paul Sartre
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B
Friedrich Nietzsche
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C
Albert Camus
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D
Simone de Beauvoir
14
Existentialism became particularly popular in which intellectual hub following World War II?
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A
Paris
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B
London
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C
New York
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D
Berlin
15
What is the relationship between existentialism and personal responsibility?
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A
Individuals are fully responsible for their choices
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B
Choices are entirely dictated by fate
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C
Society is responsible for individual actions
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D
God is responsible for all human choices
16
Which of these emotions is frequently analyzed in existentialist philosophy as a response to the 'absurd' nature of life?
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A
Absurdity
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B
Happiness
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C
Contentment
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D
Pride
17
The term 'Absurdism' is most closely associated with the works of which philosopher?
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A
Albert Camus
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B
Jean-Paul Sartre
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C
Friedrich Nietzsche
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D
Martin Heidegger
18
Existentialists often focus on the 'human condition', which refers to what?
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A
The universal experiences of being human
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B
The medical study of human anatomy
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C
The history of human evolution
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D
The rules of international law
19
According to existentialism, when someone denies their own freedom, they are often said to be acting in:
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A
Bad faith
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B
Good faith
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C
Total honesty
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D
Social harmony
20
What role does 'choice' play in the existentialist view of human identity?
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A
Identity is built through choices
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B
Identity is fixed at birth
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C
Identity is purely a matter of luck
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D
Identity is defined by one's parents
