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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 suggest violent action against oppression becomes a contradiction to the cause of freedom?

2. How does Beauvoir claim a goal is defined?

3. What does Beauvoir mean when she writes, "...festivals whose role is to stop the movement of transcendence?"

4. What is the paradox that Beauvoir identifies in the fight against oppression?

5. What are the two clans that Beauvoir claims to come from oppression?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Beauvoir write that the only way way that the oppressed can fulfill his freedom is through revolt?

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

3. How does Beauvoir claim living as an existentialist would affect men?

4. What does Beauvoir claim becomes of those who adopt the Aesthetic Attitude?

5. What does Beauvoir mean with the phrase "Antinomies of Action"?

6. How does Beauvoir claim that we can best secure our personal freedom?

7. How does ambiguity affect man when he faces failure and outrageousness, according to Beauvoir?

8. What is the main criticism that Beauvoir makes of the Aesthetic Attitude?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Beauvoir considers the present as nothing more that a passing moment between history and the future. Provide a commentary of how Beauvoir's perspective on the past, present, and future can be used to develop a use of time and outlook that can build toward personal freedom and help with plans of projects that will affect your future.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Beauvoir examines two meanings of the word "future". Examine the two meanings and Beauvoir's contexts for those two meanings and her criticisms against the way they are applied. Choose one of Beauvoir's meanings for "future" and detail how it shapes your attitude toward your projects and efforts to develop your free will.

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This section contains 860 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample