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Is my titular question trivial, vacuous, encompasses every philosopher ever, none ever, or only encompasses a non-empty subset? I think there are different positions on it.

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Final answer:

The titular question is not trivial but is a non-empty subset of philosophical inquiries that have been debated throughout history, including classic and practical questions that have significantly influenced human thought and society.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question on whether a titular question is trivial or not is intricately tied to philosophical inquiry and does not have a straightforward answer. Philosophy is a discipline that explores fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Classic philosophical questions include inquiries about knowledge, such as "Is it possible to know anything?", and if so, "Can we prove it?" These questions explore the epistemological foundations of our understanding of the world.

Philosophers also delve into moral and existential questions like "Is there a best way to live?", "Is it better to be just, even if one could get away with being unjust?", and whether humans have free will. These queries are far from being trivial; they have shaped human thought and civilization over the millennia.

The purpose of philosophical inquiry is to encourage critical thinking and enable individuals to make informed decisions on complex issues. Arguments within philosophical debates often appeal to moral intuitions and reason, as seen in the discourse on whether mathematical truths are discovered or created. The diversity of philosophical thought demonstrates that the titular question you have asked is neither trivial nor universally encompassing, but rather represents a non-empty subset of philosophical views that have been robustly debated throughout history.

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