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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 Beauvoir claim to happen to a democratic regime that defends itself by acts of oppression?

2. What does Beauvoir claim to be the only solution for those who are oppressed?

3. How does Beauvoir claim failure affects art and science?

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

5. How does Beauvoir suggest that the ends can justify the means.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. How do societies attempt to help individuals hold onto the present according to Beauvoir?

5. What is the example of the conservative that Beauvoir uses to illustrate how tyrants will attempt to prevent revolt?

6. How does Beauvoir dispute the idea that individual freedom does not lead to anarchy?

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

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

9. How does the individual who claims to have adopted the Aesthetic Attitude view historical work, according to Beauvoir?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

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

Are Beauvoir's writings on accepting the ambiguous nature of life practical today? Identify three principles she articulates in "The Ethics of Ambiguity" that you consider to be important to preserving freedom today. Write why you consider them to be important, what sort of affect the application of these principles on a broad basis would have on freedom and general society, and how you plan to implement these principles in your life.

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This section contains 827 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample