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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. Who is the noble, true, infallible judge in Western society, according to Rand?

2. According to Branden, what do values in the context of ethics guide?

3. In Rand's essay, "How Does One Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society?" Rand states that people often dismiss evil around them out of what?

4. No one ever really sacrifices oneself because every direct action is motivated by a person's desire. What does Branden say about this statement?

5. What must one have before being able to find meaningful relationships with others?

Short Essay Questions

1. How might society commonly define compromise?

2. Describe what Rand states in "The Objectivist Ethics" that philosophers and scientists have never been able to do?

3. According to Branden's essay, "The Psychology of Pleasure," how are a person's individual pleasures determined?

4. How does Rand describe the objectivist's act of good will?

5. What does Rand say about an act of good will in the case of an emergency?

6. Why does Rand reject the widely accepted views of morals and values in regard to human existence?

7. In Rand's essay, "Doesn't Life Require Compromise?", what does she claim is synonymous with compromise?

8. According to Branden, what are the avenues where one would find pleasure, and why can one find pleasure in such avenues?

9. In "Isn't Everyone Selfish?", how does Branden describe the process upon which men act in their own self interest?

10. Explain Rand's idea of the four considerations of a rational man's thought and their function.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Nathaniel Branden claims that moralists and mystics contribute to the destruction of one's mental health. Explain his reasoning on this topic, regarding how morality and mysticism are directly related to one's mental health. Cite examples from the text to support your response.

Essay Topic 2

How does fiction serve as an outlet for Ayn Rand to spread and further explain her Objectivist philosophy? Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

Essay Topic 3

Is it racist to think in terms of black and white? What are the similarities between racism and thinking in terms of black and white? What are the major differences? What does Rand say about each?

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