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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 claim of existentialists does Beauvoir offer in defense of detractors to existentialism?

2. What does Beauvoir claim matters to the serious man?

3. How does Beauvoir explain what Descartes meant when he said that the freedom of man is infinite, but this power is limited?

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

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

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Beauvoir define the child's world?

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

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

4. Upon what basis does Beauvoir suggest that a man decides upon what he wants to be?

5. How does Beauvoir characterize Materialists?

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

7. With what quote from Descartes does Beauvoir begin Section II?

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

9. What type of adults does Beauvoir claim stays in an infantile world?

10. How does Beauvoir claim one can avoid nihilism?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Beauvoir connects projects, creativity and time as elements that can help man develop free will. Show Beauvoir relates the three to each other to prove her point. Use life applications to prove Beauvoir's assertions.

Essay Topic 2

Beauvoir uses three stages of human development (childhood, adolescence, and adulthood) to explain the progression to free will. Summarize Beauvoir's thoughts on these three stages and give personal examples that prove her observations.

Essay Topic 3

Beauvoir identifies adults who conduct themselves as, "grown up children." Identify the conditions Beauvoir notes that places an individual in this condition, provide evidence from history or current events that this condition has manifested itself on a broad basis, and detail how the individuals in that condition were broken from it.

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This section contains 732 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample