Richard Taylor (1919-2003) Was an American Philosopher Who Taught at Major

question 12

Multiple Choice

Richard Taylor (1919-2003) was an American philosopher who taught at major universities and wrote several influential books, including Metaphysics (1963) , Good and Evil (1970) , and Virtue Ethics (1991) . In this essay, he rejects the notion that meaning in life is assigned to us from a source outside us. "The meaning of life," he says, "is from within us, it is not bestowed from without, and it far exceeds in both its beauty and permanence any heaven of which men have ever dreamed or yearned for."
-In the ruins of once great civilizations and in the remains of once thriving ordinary lives, Taylor sees

• A) nihilism.
• B) only pointlessness.
• C) only meaninglessness.
• D) meaningfulness that once was.

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Definitions:

Intense Emotions

Strong, overpowering feelings that demand attention and can significantly impact an individual's behavior, decision-making, and well-being.

Groupthink

A psychological phenomenon wherein the desire for harmony or conformity in a group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Risks

The potential for losing something of value or the possibility of an undesirable outcome.

Unintended Consequences

Outcomes that are not the ones foreseen and intended by a purposeful action.