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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 are projects according to Beauvoir?

3. According to Beauvoir, upon what do politicians rely to sustain their influence over individuals?

4. What does Beauvoir identify as the worst thing to be said for violence?

5. Upon what does Beauvoir claim existence is based?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Beauvoir characterize the world at the beginning of Section III?

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

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

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

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

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

7. How does Beauvoir show that the complexity of the world affects those who are fighting for a cause?

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

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

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

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

Beauvoir concludes her book with a defense that her ethical principles regarding ambiguity are individualistic. Support or criticize her position with statements from her book and evidence from personal experiences and history.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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This section contains 707 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample