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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 Beauvoir explain that the Marxist paradox lends to her theory the scheme of man is ambiguous?

2. At what time does Beauvoir suggest that children begin to notice the contradictions, hesitations and weaknesses of adults?

3. How does Beauvoir compare southern slaves to children?

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

5. What does Beauvoir claim to be the affect of rejecting any extrinsic justification for internal choices?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How does Beauvoir explain that nihilism becomes the desire for power?

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

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

6. How does Beauvoir characterize Materialists?

7. How does Beauvoir explain the characteristic feature of all ethics?

8. What does Beauvoir suggest causes the infantile world to begin to pass away by adolescence?

9. How does Beauvoir define the serious man?

10. How does Beauvoir characterize Dualists?

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

At the end of Chapter Three, Beauvoir examines the role of politics in either establishing and protecting freedom or leading to tyranny. Choose one of Beauvoir's explanations of the role of either politics or violence leading to either freedom or tyranny and give your support or opposition to her view. Support your position with language from "The Ethics of Ambiguity" or from outside sources.

Essay Topic 3

How does Beauvoir claim that a "serious man" becomes nihilistic and what are the affects of nihilism on the individual? What are the consequences to the "serious man" if he resists the impulses that lead to nihilism? How does individual acceptance or rejection of nihilism influence an environment or community.

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