On Not Being a Philosopher by Robert Lynd

Important Solved Questions and Answers -

A. Answer the following questions in one or two words -

1. Where was Robert Lynd born?
Ans: Belfast, Northern Ireland.

2. What is the name of the American poet-philosopher whose work the author has read?
Ans: Ralph Waldo Emerson.

3. According to the author, most philosophers write as though life were an argument conducted in.............what?
Ans: Jargon.

4. Whom does the author want to conduct the laborious quest for wisdom?
Ans: The philosophers.

5. Whose son is the slave who does not bring the hot water supposed to be?
Ans: Zeus' son.

6. Who is the first philosopher mentioned by Lynd in his essay?
Ans: Epictetus.

7. To whom does Lynd compare himself in his eagerness in desiring wisdom?
Ans: King Solomon.

B. Answer the following questions in a few words -

1. Who was Marcus Aurelius and what is the name of the brook in which we find his philosophy?
Ans: Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and a stoic philosopher. He was born in 121 A.D and died in 180 A.D. We find his philosophy in his book ' Meditations'.

2. In what context does Lynd mention Solomon?
Ans: Lynd mentions Solomon in the context of wisdom. He desired wisdom as eagerly as Solomon who was one of the richest, most powerful, and wisest of the biblical kings. Solomon's name is synonymous with wisdom.

3. Who was Socrates and what did he promote?
Ans: Socrates was a Greek philosopher who lived between 469 and 399 B.C. His views were considered too radical for the times, so he was imprisoned and forced to drink hemlock, the juice of a poisonous herb, which caused his death. He promoted the love of inquiry that would lead to knowledge and justice. He stood staunchly against skepticism.

4. Who was Epictetus?
Ans: Epictetus was a Greek stoic philosopher of the first and second century A.D. who was originally a slave. Though he wrote no treatise himself, his discourses were compiled by a pupil and these are to be found in "Enchiridion".

5. Who is Zeus?
Ans: Zeus is the king of the Greek pantheon of gods and goddesses. He symbolizes power and order.

C. Answer the following question briefly in your own words -

1. Discuss the circumstances that lead to Lynd's reading Epictetus.
Ans: In the lounge of a hotel, Robert Lynd overheard a piece of conversation where one person asked another if the latter had read Epictetus. He wondered if the words of Epictetus were the words of wisdom he had been looking for when he was at school. He had a faith that wisdom could be found somewhere in a book that will make him wise instantly. For this, he had gone through the writings of Emerson and Marcus Aurelius but they failed to achieve the desired result of making him wise overnight. Moreover, Lynd desired wisdom as eagerly as Solomon, instantly with very little effort. This tendency led him to read the works of great stoic philosopher Epictetus whose books were on his bookshelves.

2. On what points does Lynd find himself agreeing with Epictetus?
Ans: Robert Lynd to be wise instantly with very little effort, turned to great stoic philosopher Epictetus. After reading the works of this great philosopher, Lynd agreed with Epictetus nearly in everything he said. He found a close resemblance between their opinions. He realized that indifference to pain, death, and poverty is eminently desirable like Epictetus, Lynd also believed that one should not be troubled by anything over which one has no control whether it is the oppression of tyrant or the peril of earthquake. Moreover, Epictetus gave codes to follow in daily life and Lynd found himself agreeing to every point but only in theory. He found himself completely unequipped when it came to real-life situations.

3. In spite of not being any wiser, does Lynd lose faith in books? What does he still believe?
Ans: No, despite not being any wiser, Lynd does not lose faith in books. Robert Lynd had a strong desire for wisdom. But he was reluctant for the laborious quest of philosophy and desired to obtain wisdom instantly with very little effort. He had a faith that wisdom could be found somewhere in a book. For this, he had gone through the writings of Emerson and Marcus Aurelius but failed to achieve the desired result of making him wise overnight. In spite of not being any wiser, Lynd does not lose faith in books. He still believed that there exists one such book from which he could absorb philosophy and strength of character while sitting smoking in an armchair. Then he turned to the great stoic philosopher Epictetus after hearing the conversation in the hotel lounge.

4. Why does the author end with the phrase "it was only a dream"?
Ans: Robert Lynd had a strong desire for wisdom. But he was reluctant for the laborious quest of philosophy and desired to obtain wisdom instantly with very little effort. He had a faith that wisdom could be found somewhere in a book. For this, he had gone through the writings of Emerson and Marcus Aurelius but failed to achieve the desired result of making him wise overnight. Then he turned to great stoic philosopher Epictetus. After reading the works of this great philosopher, Lynd agreed with Epictetus nearly in everything he said. He found a close resemblance between their opinions. He realized that indifference to pain, death, and poverty is eminently desirable like Epictetus, Lynd also believed that one should not be troubled by anything over which one has no control whether it is the oppression of tyrant or the peril of earthquake. Moreover, Epictetus gave codes to follow in daily life and Lynd found himself agreed to every point but only in theory. He found himself completely unequipped when it came to real-life situations. He realizes that he could imitate Epictetus if he lived in a world in which nothing happened. But in a world where disagreeable things happened, it is not possible. Hence, Lynd concludes that his dream of gaining wisdom by merely listening or reading a book is merely a "dream" for him.

D. Give a suitable answer to the following -

1. Critically examine Robert Lynd's quest for instant wisdom.
Ans: Robert Lynd had a strong desire for wisdom. But he was reluctant for the laborious quest of philosophy and desired to obtain wisdom instantly with very little effort. He had a faith that wisdom could be found somewhere in a book. For this, he had gone through the writings of Emerson and Marcus Aurelius but failed to achieve the desired result of making him wise overnight. Then he turned to great stoic philosopher Epictetus. After reading the works of this great philosopher, Lynd agreed with Epictetus nearly in everything he said. He found a close resemblance between their opinions. He realized that indifference to pain, death, and poverty is eminently desirable like Epictetus, Lynd also believed that one should not be troubled by anything over which one has no control whether it is the oppression of tyrant or the peril of earthquake. Moreover, Epictetus gave codes to follow in daily life and Lynd found himself agreed to every point but only in theory. He found himself completely unequipped when it came to real-life situations. He realizes that he could imitate Epictetus if he lived in a world in which nothing happened. But in a world where disagreeable things happened, it is not possible. Hence, Lynd concludes that his dream of gaining wisdom by merely listening or reading a book is merely a dream for him.

2. Trace Lynd's reading experience with Epictetus.
Ans: Same as the above.

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On Not Being a Philosopher by Robert Lynd - Important questions and answers