View a FREE sample

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 suggest of movements whose means of achieving a goal contradicts the goal?

2. How does Beauvoir compare the present to the future?

3. What is the future that Beauvoir sees for herself?

4. What is the meaning that Beauvoir gives to Festivals?

5. How does Beauvoir claim that oppressive regimes become stronger?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Beauvoir suggest man's life must always be an energetic striving?

2. How does Beauvoir criticize the claim that life is absurdity?

3. What is an example that Beauvoir uses to illustrate the "Antinomies of Action"?

4. What is the one solution that Beauvoir offers to the oppressed?

5. What is the contradiction that Beauvoir states regarding the difficulty of living the in the modern age?

6. How does Beauvoir represent the present in the face of the future?

7. What are the two meanings that Beauvoir gives for the future?

8. What does Beauvoir identify as one of the chief objections leveled against existentialism with regard to freedom?

9. How does Beauvoir define the Aesthetic Attitude?

10. How does Beauvoir characterize freedom that is won through denying freedom to others?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Beauvoir begins Chapter One, "Ambiguity and Freedom" with a brief review of materialism, dualism, and existentialism and how they either affirm or disregard the ambiguous nature of life. Give choose one of the philosophies and summarize Beauvoir's views on it, then comment on your agreement or disagreement with Beauvoir based upon your perspective of the philosophy you have chosen. Support your argument with proofs from "The Ethics of Ambiguity" and from at least one outside source.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 811 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample