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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. What does Beauvoir identify as the certain truth contained in the nihilist attitude?

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

3. How does Beauvoir characterize the purpose of the body?

4. What does Beauvoir define as the drama of original choice?

5. How does Beauvoir suggest a child has a state of security?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Beauvoir characterize Dualists?

3. How does Beauvoir claim that spontaneity affects man's freedom?

4. How does Beauvoir claim that man can find truth in his life?

5. According to Beauvoir, how does man cast himself into the world?

6. How does Beauvoir claim that the truly free will is produced?

7. What does Beauvoir point out as the difference between the passionate man and the adventurer?

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

9. How does Beauvoir claim that man can rise to a higher moral freedom?

10. How does Beauvoir claim one can avoid nihilism?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Beauvoir concludes her book with a defense that her ethical principles regarding ambiguity are individualistic. Support or criticize her position with statements from her book and evidence from personal experiences and history.

Essay Topic 2

Are Beauvoir's writings on accepting the ambiguous nature of life practical today? Identify three principles she articulates in "The Ethics of Ambiguity" that you consider to be important to preserving freedom today. Write why you consider them to be important, what sort of affect the application of these principles on a broad basis would have on freedom and general society, and how you plan to implement these principles in your life.

Essay Topic 3

Beauvoir devotes her section on "Ambiguity" to answering criticism of her views regarding its role in personal freedom. Compare and contrast Beauvoir's position to those that she answers both in Chapter Three and earlier in the book. What are of Beauvoir's views on ambiguity as well as those which dissent with her view? What are the disadvantages of each? Do you agree with Beauvoir or her detractors. Explain your answer.

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This section contains 707 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample