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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. When does Beauvoir claim that science acquires meaning?

2. How does Beauvoir explain that artists can betray their aim with their aesthetic justification?

3. What type of future does Beauvoir recognize of humans?

4. What possibility does Beauvoir claim the fundamental ambiguity of the human condition opens to men?

5. For whom do Beauvoir and Marx agree that the cause of freedom is most urgent?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What does Beauvoir mean when she says life id ambiguous?

5. What two views of how history affects the future does Beauvoir note?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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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