Question
This book was its author’s first work written after learning French, which he described as “the most difficult task of my life,” akin to “putting on a straitjacket.” For 10 points each:
[10h] Name this 1949 book by Emil Cioran that adopts a similarly nihilist perspective to his On the Heights of Despair. This book argues that the decline of civilization allows thought to flourish by escaping old patterns.
ANSWER: A Short History of Decay [or Précis de décomposition]
[10m] Cioran moved to France from this country, whose fascist movement he supported in a book on its “transfiguration.” Another philosopher from this country theorized an “eternal return” to the “mythical age.”
ANSWER: Romania [accept The Transfiguration of Romania or Schimbarea la față a României] (The other philosopher is Mircea Eliade.)
[10e] Cioran and Eliade belonged to the fascist-sympathizing Trăirist movement founded by a mystical philosopher with this surname. They were college friends of the absurdist playwright of The Chairs, who had this surname.
ANSWER: Ionescu [or Ionesco; accept Nae Ionescu; accept Eugène Ionesco]
<FW, Philosophy (19th/20th Century)>
Data
| Team | Opponent | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quining Quem Quaeritis | Hawk the Herald Angels Tuah | 0 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| The Waterloo Queens | Hawk Tuahology | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Trielectic Materialists | The Book of Coming Forth by Gay | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Summary
| Tournament | Edition | Exact Match? | Heard | PPB | Easy % | Medium % | Hard % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 RMP Fest Online Mirror | 05/31/25 | Y | 4 | 17.50 | 100% | 75% | 0% |
| 2025 RMP Fest Carleton Mirror | 07/13/25 | Y | 3 | 13.33 | 67% | 67% | 0% |
| 2025 RMP Fest CO Mirror | 08/10/25 | Y | 6 | 18.33 | 100% | 83% | 0% |