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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 "sub-man" submerge his freedom, according to Beauvoir?

2. What does Descartes credit man's unhappiness to, according to Beauvoir?

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

4. How does Beauvoir explain that the serious man becomes a dangerous tyrant?

5. How does Beauvoir introduce the role of God in the discussion of ethics?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Beauvoir relate nature of man's existence to the past, present, and future in Part I?

3. What faces the adolescent who is being liberated from the infantile world, according to Beauvoir?

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

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

6. How does Beauvoir claim an individual makes himself a "sub-man"?

7. What does Beauvoir suggest to be a flaw in Existential philosophy?

8. How does Beauvoir characterize Dualists?

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

10. How does Beauvoir characterize Materialists?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Beauvoir's views on how science, art, technology (technics), and philosophy can either add to or detract from freedom. After the general examination of the four, choose one and detail how Beauvoir's points are proven in modern applications.

Essay Topic 2

In the "Antinomies of Action", Beauvoir shows how actions can both work to achieve and work against a cause. Identify one of Beauvoir's examples of actions achieving a cause and working against a cause and prove Beauvoir's explanation with an example from history or current events.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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