Social Science
Existentialism and Phenomenology
913 Questions
Existentialism and phenomenology are philosophical movements concerned with human experience, freedom, and meaning. This topic covers key thinkers like Sartre, Heidegger, and Kierkegaard. Such questions appear in optional subject papers for civil services.
Key existentialist philosophersPhenomenology conceptsPhilosophical theoriesContinental philosophy
Existentialism and Phenomenology Questions
Which Existentialist philosopher famously wrote 'Being and Nothingness'?
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Friedrich Nietzsche
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Søren Kierkegaard
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Martin Heidegger
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Jean-Paul Sartre
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Jean-Paul Sartre is known for his influential work 'Being and Nothingness', which explores themes of freedom, responsibility, and the nature of human existence.
Which Existentialist philosopher famously wrote 'The Myth of Sisyphus'?
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Friedrich Nietzsche
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Søren Kierkegaard
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Martin Heidegger
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Albert Camus
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Albert Camus is known for his influential work 'The Myth of Sisyphus', which explores themes of absurdity, meaninglessness, and the pursuit of meaning in a meaningless world.
Which Existentialist philosopher famously wrote 'Fear and Trembling'?
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Friedrich Nietzsche
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Søren Kierkegaard
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Martin Heidegger
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Jean-Paul Sartre
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Søren Kierkegaard is known for his influential work 'Fear and Trembling', which explores themes of faith, anxiety, and the nature of religious belief.
Which existentialist philosopher is known for the concept of "the absurd"?
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Jean-Paul Sartre
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Albert Camus
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Martin Heidegger
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Søren Kierkegaard
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Albert Camus is known for his concept of "the absurd", which refers to the inherent contradiction between the human desire for meaning and the meaninglessness of the universe.
Which existentialist philosopher is known for the concept of "being-towards-death"?
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Jean-Paul Sartre
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Albert Camus
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Martin Heidegger
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Søren Kierkegaard
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Martin Heidegger is known for his concept of "being-towards-death", which refers to the fact that humans are always aware of their own mortality and that this awareness shapes their existence.
Which existentialist philosopher is known for the concept of "the leap of faith"?
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Jean-Paul Sartre
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Albert Camus
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Martin Heidegger
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Søren Kierkegaard
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Søren Kierkegaard is known for his concept of "the leap of faith", which refers to the decision to embrace faith in God despite the lack of rational evidence.
Which existentialist philosopher is known for the concept of "bad faith"?
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Jean-Paul Sartre
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Albert Camus
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Martin Heidegger
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Søren Kierkegaard
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Jean-Paul Sartre is known for his concept of "bad faith", which refers to the act of denying one's own freedom and responsibility.
Which existentialist philosopher is known for the concept of "the existential vacuum"?
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Jean-Paul Sartre
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Albert Camus
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Martin Heidegger
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Viktor Frankl
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Viktor Frankl is known for his concept of "the existential vacuum", which refers to the feeling of emptiness and meaninglessness that can result from a lack of purpose in life.
Which existentialist philosopher is known for the concept of "the will to power"?
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Jean-Paul Sartre
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Albert Camus
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Martin Heidegger
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Friedrich Nietzsche
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Friedrich Nietzsche is known for his concept of "the will to power", which refers to the fundamental drive that motivates all human behavior.
Which existentialist philosopher is known for the concept of "the eternal recurrence"?
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Jean-Paul Sartre
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Albert Camus
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Martin Heidegger
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Friedrich Nietzsche
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Friedrich Nietzsche is known for his concept of "the eternal recurrence", which refers to the idea that all events in the universe will repeat themselves infinitely.
Which existentialist philosopher is known for the concept of "the Übermensch"?
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Jean-Paul Sartre
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Albert Camus
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Martin Heidegger
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Friedrich Nietzsche
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Friedrich Nietzsche is known for his concept of "the Übermensch", which refers to the ideal human being who has overcome traditional morality and values.
Which existentialist philosopher is known for the concept of "the death of God"?
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Jean-Paul Sartre
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Albert Camus
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Martin Heidegger
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Friedrich Nietzsche
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Friedrich Nietzsche is known for his concept of "the death of God", which refers to the idea that traditional religious beliefs are no longer tenable in the modern world.
Which existentialist philosopher is known for the concept of "the revolt of the masses"?
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Jean-Paul Sartre
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Albert Camus
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Martin Heidegger
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José Ortega y Gasset
D
Correct answer
Explanation
José Ortega y Gasset is known for his concept of "the revolt of the masses", which refers to the rise of a new social class that is characterized by its lack of culture and its desire for power.
Which existentialist philosopher is known for the concept of "the existential crisis"?
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Jean-Paul Sartre
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Albert Camus
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Martin Heidegger
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Søren Kierkegaard
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Søren Kierkegaard is known for his concept of "the existential crisis", which refers to the crisis of faith and meaning that can occur when a person becomes aware of their own mortality and freedom.
What was the name of the 20th-century American psychiatrist who developed the theory of existential therapy?
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Philippe Pinel
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Jean-Martin Charcot
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Sigmund Freud
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Viktor Frankl
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Viktor Frankl was a 20th-century American psychiatrist who is often credited with developing the theory of existential therapy. Existential therapy is a method of treating mental illness that is based on the idea that a person's search for meaning in life can help them to overcome their mental health problems.