View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Beauvoir compare the present to the future?
(a) The moment that, when combined with the line of the past, defines the ambiguity of freedom.
(b) As that moment that quickly passes both into the past and the future.
(c) The only point in time in which the individual can come to grasp their reality.
(d) As only negative which must be eliminated as such.

2. What possibility does Beauvoir claim the fundamental ambiguity of the human condition opens to men?
(a) The possibility of opposing choices.
(b) The choice of being and lack of being.
(c) The choice of existentialism over materialism.
(d) The choice of freedom over oppression.

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

4. When does Beauvoir suggest an individual might adopt the Aesthetic Attitude?
(a) During moments of discouragement and confusion.
(b) During times of oppression.
(c) During efforts of an individual to will themselves free.
(d) When he recognizes that his freedom is secured when he is not with others.

5. What does Beauvoir claim an individual must do to conquer an enemy with violence?
(a) Adopt the Aesthetic Attitude.
(b) Recognize that the use of violence will be met with the same.
(c) Reduce the enemy and the self to things.
(d) Subject freedom to demands for violence.

6. For whom do Beauvoir and Marx agree that the cause of freedom is most urgent?
(a) The proletariat who is controlled by the bourgeois.
(b) To the oppressed that it appears as immediately necessary.
(c) Women who are unaware of the subjugation to men.
(d) The unenlightened who does not realize their exploitation.

7. What Beauvoir claim to happen to a democratic regime that defends itself by acts of oppression?
(a) It betrays its virtues.
(b) It is pursuing political goals.
(c) It faces the possibility of becoming oppressive.
(d) It is embracing the ambiguity of existence.

8. When an individual aims at a goal that will be achieved beyond his own death, what does Beauvoir claim the individual should expect from the time given to the goal?
(a) The individual should expect those who share his vision accept his means.
(b) The individual should not expect anything of that time for which he worked.
(c) The individual should expect a festival be given in his honor.
(d) The individual should expect his virtues to be challenged through his effort.

9. What knowledge comes to the man who has known real loves, real revolts, real desires and real will according to Beauvoir?
(a) He knows freedom.
(b) He has grasped his ambiguity.
(c) He has no need of any outside guarantee to be sure of his goals.
(d) He has reached transcendence.

10. How does Beauvoir suggest that the ends can justify the means.
(a) Only if the focus of those taking action are on the future.
(b) Only if the motivations of those taking action are on full display.
(c) Only if those taking action consider the consequences before they take action.
(d) Only if the end is completely disclosed in the course of the present enterprise.

11. How does Beauvoir explain that technics (technology) is not objectively justified?
(a) Technics too often aims at expanding freedom, but ends up causing individuals to be absorbed into the seriousness of projects.
(b) Technics depends on science for its gains, but science only has purpose when it can transcend time.
(c) Technics can have significant benefit for projects in the present, but too often it fuels the desire to accept the Aesthetic Attitude.
(d) Technics makes the absolute goal of saving time and work of life, but life only gains meaning when time and work are spent.

12. What contradiction does Beauvoir suggest will come to those who fight for a cause due to the complexity of the world?
(a) In order to win an urgent victory, one may be brought to face a humiliating defeat.
(b) In order to win an urgent victory, one may be brought to sacrifice his principles.
(c) In order to win an urgent victory, one may be brought to leaving a valued friend.
(d) In order to win an urgent victory, one may be brought to the point of fighting against valid causes.

13. What does Beauvoir claim to be necessary to the desire for the slave to become conscious of his servitude?
(a) For the individual to accept oppression for the sake of demonstrating how the individual can will their freedom.
(b) For the individual who wants to make the slave of his position to avoid becoming a tyrant.
(c) For the tyrant to leave the Aesthetic Attitude and accept the oppression he is bringing to others.
(d) For the individual to break through the denial of the slave with a revolt against the tyrant.

14. According to Beauvoir, if every man is free:
(a) His will must remain free.
(b) He cannot will himself free.
(c) He is free to oppress the freedom of others.
(d) He must work to free other men.

15. If an individual does not inform a slave of his oppression, what does Beauvoir suggest of their position regarding tyranny?
(a) The individual who remains silent regarding tyranny loses his will to be free.
(b) The individual who remains silent regarding tyranny is complicit in tyranny.
(c) The individual who remains silent regarding tyranny assumes the Aesthetic Attitude.
(d) The individual who remains silent regarding tyranny becomes a tyrant himself.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Beauvoir suggest that the idea of the ambiguity of existence should not be considered absurd?

2. How does Beauvoir suggest an individual can find tranquility of the serious?

3. According to Beauvoir, upon what do politicians rely to sustain their influence over individuals?

4. What does Beauvoir identify as the worst thing to be said for violence?

5. How does Beauvoir summarize Hegel's view of the future?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,204 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample