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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How do ethics of ambiguity avoid being solipsistic?
(a) Because goals often transcend the life of the individual who initiates them.
(b) Because it demands that individuals engage matter in the pursuit of projects.
(c) By the fact that the individual is defined only by his relationship to the world and other individuals.
(d) Because the means of an end often affect more individual than the achievement of the end itself.

2. How does Beauvoir suggest an individual can find tranquility of the serious?
(a) By considering their projects to be divinely inspired so their seriousness has eternal significance.
(b) By rejecting the sloppy thinking that the present oppression will vanish on its own.
(c) By projecting himself toward a Future-Thing and submerge their freedom it it.
(d) By occupying their present only with serious matter.

3. How does Beauvoir claim that oppressive regimes become stronger?
(a) Through indiscriminate violence that removes all pretense of freedom.
(b) Through the degradation of the oppressed.
(c) Through ruthlessly enforcing law.
(d) Through being willing to kill allies.

4. Of what does Beauvoir accuse political parties in their effort to control the ambiguity of the human condition?
(a) Abuse of language.
(b) Creating conflicts.
(c) Making contradictory statements to appeal to all people.
(d) Glorifying war.

5. What is the meaning that Beauvoir gives to Festivals?
(a) Politicians use festivals to obscure their oppression.
(b) Societies use festivals to exalt their virtues.
(c) Existence attempts in festivals to confirm itself as positive.
(d) Individuals in festivals attempt to escape the uncertainty of the future.

6. How does Beauvoir suggest violent action against oppression becomes a contradiction to the cause of freedom?
(a) Because conquering enemies requires reducing the enemies to things and those who fight oppression must reduce themselves to things as well.
(b) Because those who fight oppression must oppress those who fight with them to command the battle.
(c) Because those who see oppressors as being beneficial will believe they fight for freedom in defense of an oppressor.
(d) Because those who fight oppression generally desire the power of those they attempt to overthrow.

7. What comes of the man of action who does not recognize the ambiguity that appears during the pursuit of his goal, according to Beauvoir?
(a) He will lose his ability to evaluate his choices.
(b) He will lose sight of his goal.
(c) He will fall victim to the oppression he is fighting.
(d) He can become a dictator.

8. What does Beauvoir claim to be the meaning and substance of all action?
(a) Freedom.
(b) Existentialism.
(c) The future.
(d) Ambiguity.

9. Since human life is finite, with what does Beauvoir suggest the individual should concern himself?
(a) Finding purpose in ambiguity.
(b) Finding a balance between goals and means.
(c) Dedicating himself to projects that transcend time.
(d) Will himself free.

10. What does Beauvoir claim to be the only solution for those who are oppressed?
(a) Avoid the negative consequences of oppression by producing as directed.
(b) Assume the Aesthetic Attitude and escape the turmoil of the world for an existence of contemplation.
(c) Deny the harmony of mankind by revolting against the tyrants.
(d) Negate oppression by willing oneself free.

11. How does Beauvoir claim that "The Ethics of Ambiguity" compare to the individualism of Christian ethics?
(a) Christian salvation is provided by an individual source as are the Ethics of Ambiguity.
(b) Both Christian ethics and the Ethics of Ambiguity have their greatest influence on individual practice.
(c) Both Christian ethics and the Ethics of Ambiguity depend upon individual devotion.
(d) Christian ethics dispenses salvation to the individual as the Ethics of Ambiguity depends on the individual accepting the nature of their ambiguity.

12. What are projects according to Beauvoir?
(a) Activities in which the individual works toward a goal.
(b) Activities in which an individual works to affect others.
(c) Activities in which the individual sacrifices freedom for achievement.
(d) Activities which define history.

13. In the challenge for those who suffer more than one oppressor, what answer does Beauvoir offer?
(a) Only by generating full support of the masses could any of the oppressors be dispatched.
(b) Overthrowing the oppressors is a matter of opportunity and efficiency.
(c) Only by working with the least offensive of the oppressors could other oppressors be removed.
(d) The issue is moral, not political, and the moral consensus must be reached with at least one oppressor.

14. How does Beauvoir claim to be the only means by which the present can retrieve itself?
(a) By holding with an existentialist who has adopted the Aesthetic Attitude.
(b) Through politicians who deny obvious truth so as to delay the consequences of their present decisions.
(c) Through similar events through history.
(d) By transcending itself toward the permanence of future being.

15. What does Beauvoir suggest to be the motivation of those who adopt the Aesthetic Attitude?
(a) It is meant to understand the beauty of freedom.
(b) It is taken so the individual can reflect on the role of the will in using freedom.
(c) It is a way of fleeing the truth of the present.
(d) It is a means of understanding the role of oppression in history.

Short Answer Questions

1. What type of future does Beauvoir recognize of humans?

2. What is the future that Beauvoir sees for herself?

3. What does Beauvoir claim to be the violence committed by opponents to the Nazi occupation of France.

4. What does Beauvoir claim an individual must do to conquer an enemy with violence?

5. What does Beauvoir claim to be necessary to the desire for the slave to become conscious of his servitude?

(see the answer keys)

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