Philosophy: Question Everything!

#54 Week 12

Author

Sigrun Sørumgård
March 17, 2025

How well do you know ancient and modern philosophers, and their sayings and thoughts?

  1. What does the word philosophy mean?

  2. Who famous philosopher was also a teacher of Alexander the Great?

  3. What is the name of Plato's most famous work, in which he describes the ideal state?

  4. Which 17th-century philosopher said, "I think, therefore I am" (Cogito, ergo sum)?

  5. Which Chinese philosopher became known for the Five Virtues: humanity, following customs, rituals and traditions, the morally right, prudence and finally trustworthiness?

  6. Which Danish philosopher is known as the "father of existentialism"?

  7. Which French philosopher wrote The Second Sex about women's rights?

  8. What is the study of existence called?

  9. Which German philosopher wrote Critique of Pure Reason?

  10. Which philosopher said “God is dead, and we have killed him.”

The Wonder Wall

  • Jeremy Bentham was one of the most eccentric philosophers. He founded utilitarianism and was a true genius. However, he had a teapot called Dickey that no one was allowed to touch, and he called his walking stick, Dapple. In his will, he left an unusual instruction: one of his friends was to dissect his body in public. This wish was fulfilled. His remains were mummified and placed in a display case. They can be seen today at University College, London.

  • A philosopher about whom there are a large number of anecdotes was the famous Diogenes of Sinope. He lived inside a wine barrel, liked to relieve himself in public, even in crowded theaters, and if he didn't like someone, he would urinate on them.

  • Another anecdote is about the time Socrates received an offer from a rich Athenian. He wanted him to educate his son. The philosopher replied that this would cost him 500 drachmas, which was a considerable sum at the time. The man said that this was too expensive and that he could buy a donkey for that price. Socrates asked him to buy the donkey. "Then you have two donkeys in the house," he told him.

Fridays Questions & Answers

  1. Which famous Viking raid in 793 is often considered the beginning of the Viking Age?

    In A.D. 793, an attack on the Lindisfarne monastery off the coast of Northumberland in northeastern England marked the beginning of the Viking Age.

  2. What did Vikings call the land they discovered in North America?

    Two Norse sagas—Grænlendinga saga (“Saga of the Greenlanders”) and Eiríks saga rauða (“Erik the Red's Saga”)—offer somewhat different accounts of the first Viking visits to North America, which they called Vinland.

  3. What was the name of the Viking marketplace and trading center in Sweden?

    Birka was a thriving marketplace and international harbour in the 700´s and one can still see remnants of those glory days. Birka can today be found on the UNESCO World heritage list.

  4. Which Viking king ruled over England, Denmark, and Norway in the early 11th century?

    Cnut, born about 990 – 12 November 1035, also known as Canute and with the epithet the Great, was King of England from 1016, King of Denmark from 1018, and King of Norway from 1028 until his death in 1035.

  5. Which city in Ireland was originally founded as a Viking settlement?

    Dublin appears to have been founded twice by the Vikings.

  6. Which Viking leader is said to have killed a dragon in Norse mythology?

    Sigurd's youth. In both the German and the Scandinavian versions, Sigurd's slaying of the dragon embues him with superhuman abilities. In the Norse sources, Sigurd comes to understand the language of the birds after tasting the dragon's blood and then eating its heart.

  7. What was the name of the Viking slaves?

    Thralls

  8. How many signs/symbols are there in The older runic alphabet?

    The older runic alphabet has 24 characters divided into three groups or "families".

  9. Which major battle in 1066 marked the end of the Viking Age?

    The Battle of Stamford Bridge.

  10. Who was the last great Viking king, defeated at this battle in 1066?

    Harald Hardrada was struck in the throat by an arrow and killed early in the battle.