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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. Of what does Beauvoir accuse political parties in their effort to control the ambiguity of the human condition?

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

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

4. What influence does Beauvoir claim revolt has on the world.

5. Why does Beauvoir suggest that the idea of the ambiguity of existence should not be considered absurd?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

5. What does Beauvoir claim prevents the future from being considered a harmonious development?

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the "adventurer" from the "passionate man" and give historical examples for each. Which lives freely and which has the greatest influence on general freedom? Which one does Beauvoir seem to favor? Use her comments to support your view.

Essay Topic 2

How does Beauvoir claim that a "serious man" becomes nihilistic and what are the affects of nihilism on the individual? What are the consequences to the "serious man" if he resists the impulses that lead to nihilism? How does individual acceptance or rejection of nihilism influence an environment or community.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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This section contains 834 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample