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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. Why does Beauvoir claim that some individuals have lives that slip into an infantile world?

2. What is the illustration Beauvoir uses to prove her assertion of stubbornness in the face of impossibility?

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

4. How does the "sub-man" submerge his freedom, according to Beauvoir?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. How does Beauvoir characterize Dualists?

5. What does Beauvoir note has been claimed of the nature of existentialism as a philosophy?

6. How does Beauvoir characterize Materialists?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define Beauvoir's term, "serious man." What are the positive and negative aspects of this condition, and how does an individual move into it? Does modern society encourage individuals to accept this condition? How does the modern social view of the "serious man" affect the quality of freedom for communities, cultures, and nations?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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This section contains 746 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample