View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Beauvoir claim is revealed through art?
(a) Art reveals that ambiguous principles of truth and beauty can occupy time and space.
(b) Art reveals the transitory as an absolute.
(c) Art reveals the aesthetic qualities of the will of freedom.
(d) Art reveals that aesthetic contemplation at some point must make contact with time and space.

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

3. How does Beauvoir claim that the individual with the Aesthetic Attitude regard his role in history?
(a) He considers his will to remain free to be the driving force of history.
(b) He considers history to have no affect on his Aesthetic Attitude.
(c) He considers his thoughts to form the existential material of history.
(d) He considers himself outside of time, and does not belong to history.

4. When does Beauvoir claim that science acquires meaning?
(a) When science explains material properties of present conditions.
(b) When it is seen as a movement toward freedom.
(c) When scientific processes prove phenomena that transcend time.
(d) When science can cross the boundaries of the physical to the aesthetic.

5. What does Beauvoir note to be the objection of oppressors who are facing overthrow for the cause of freedom?
(a) Overthrowing oppressors will bring neophytes to incompetently administer the principles of law and justice.
(b) Overthrowing the order of oppressors threatens to subject all to barbarism.
(c) By overthrowing their oppression, the freedom of oppressors is being deprived.
(d) Those who overthrow an oppressor are only seeking the power to oppress.

6. Why does Beauvoir suggest that the idea of the ambiguity of existence should not be considered absurd?
(a) Because to consider the idea that human existence is ambiguous is to deny that human existence can ever be given a meaning.
(b) Because clinging to labeling challenging ideas as absurd only limits intellectual investigation.
(c) Because to consider the ambiguity of existence as absurd is, itself, absurd.
(d) Because to consider the ambiguity of existence absurd is to shut down debate that can define human existence.

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

8. What does Beauvoir report to be Marx' view of the future?
(a) The future can only be affected if one accepts the validity of the projects they take as contributing to it.
(b) The future is organic because it is built on the lives and sacrifices of the past.
(c) The future will only begin when the socialist state ends prehistory and begins real history.
(d) The future is not stationary because the mind is restless and the struggle for the future never ceases.

9. What are the two meanings that Beauvoir gives to the word future.
(a) Future is that which is yet to come, but is the substance of all projects.
(b) It is the ambiguous condition of man which is lack of being as well as man's existence.
(c) The future is never here, but man is always moving toward it.
(d) Future is both a speculation and a target.

10. Why does Beauvoir suggest that if man waits for universal peace to establish his existence validly, he will wait indefinitely?
(a) Because the world has always been at war and always will be.
(b) Because peace is not required to establish validity.
(c) Because struggles for controlling the future by politicians will prevent universal peace.
(d) Because it is man's reaction to war that establishes validity.

11. What type of individual does Beauvoir claim adopts the Aesthetic Attitude?
(a) One who uses his freedom to guide others to consider the world in detached contemplation.
(b) One who claims to have no other relation with the world than that of detached contemplation.
(c) One who only contemplates his freedom while he is among others.
(d) One who detaches freedom from will.

12. What does Beauvoir claim is needed to make an ethical choice in a complex situation?
(a) Means that justify an end.
(b) Long analysis.
(c) Transcendent goals.
(d) A strong sense of ambiguity.

13. What example did Beauvoir use to show how those who fight for a cause will come to accept certain contradictions.
(a) Politicians who were defeated in elections by foretelling the realized negative consequences of popular programs.
(b) Natives who fought freedom from the British Empire during WWII with the support of Fascist regimes.
(c) Generals who were willing to pull their soldiers from battle so they could win a more important battle later.
(d) Martyrs who were killed by authoritarians who sought to kill their causes, but their deaths gave it more influence.

14. What influence does Beauvoir claim revolt has on the world.
(a) Revolt does not wish to be integrated, but to break the world's continuity.
(b) Revolt affects even those who have adopted the Aesthetic Attitude and forces the realities of the world on every man.
(c) Revolt rises from the recognition of oppression and brings freedom to the world.
(d) Revolt rises from a detachment from things and eventually leads to oppression through the desire to control things.

15. What three considerations an individual make before acting are abstract, according to Beauvoir?
(a) Does the action lead to a goal, is it transcendent, will it affect the self.
(b) Is the action possible, is it future-oriented, will it affect the self.
(c) Is the action practical, is it good, is it bad.
(d) Is the action ambiguous, is it mental, is it physical.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Beauvoir explain that an individual might be responsible for what they accept, but not guilty for acting upon it?

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

3. What are some of the causes that Beauvoir points out that oppressors will claim to defend in their battles against those who try to overthrow them?

4. What is the meaning that Beauvoir gives to Festivals?

5. Upon what does Beauvoir claim existence is based?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,230 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample