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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does the child's life begin actually become serious according to Beauvoir?

2. What does Beauvoir claim to be the relationship between the serious and nihilism?

3. How does Beauvoir consider stubbornness in the face of an obstacle that is impossible to overcome?

4. By quoting Dostoyevsky ("If God does not exist, then everything is permitted"), what examination does Beauvoir make?

5. How does Beauvoir suggest that a child console himself when confronted with personal imperfection?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Beauvoir describe the difference between Marxists and existentialist?

2. How does Beauvoir characterize Dualists?

3. How does Beauvoir show that the "sub-man" passes into being a serious man?

4. How does Beauvoir explain that willing bad is possible?

5. To what does Beauvoir credit the development of many different philosophical world views?

6. How does Beauvoir claim that man can disclose being?

7. What does Beauvoir detail as the consequences of failure to the serious man?

8. What are two descriptions that Beauvoir gives to man at the beginning of Part I, Ambiguity and Freedom?

9. According to Beauvoir, how have existentialists defined their philosophy?

10. How does Beauvoir characterize Materialists?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Beauvoir refers to Karl Marx throughout "The Ethics of Ambiguity". Analyze Beauvoir's position on Marxism through her several references. Cite your agreement or disagreement with Beauvoir's position based history of communism since 1948 and commentaries by either Marx or detractors of Marxism.

Essay Topic 2

Does Beauvoir consider the source of oppression to be individuals or a natural state that people accept and use for their own purposes. Explain your answer with support from "The Ethics of Ambiguity" and at least one example from history or current events.

Essay Topic 3

Beauvoir comments extensively on the "sub-man". Define what Beauvoir's term, "sub-man," what causes an individual to take that station, and whether or not you see it as a common condition in modern society. Make your recommendations as to how an individual can move from this condition.

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