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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Bataille say about the knife whose handle and blade are changed indefinitely?
(a) It is no longer the same knife.
(b) It is a capitalist knife, with its value in its use alone.
(c) It partakes of the eternal form of knife-ness.
(d) It is a modern knife, with replaceable parts.

2. Who developed the theory of conspicuous consumption?
(a) John Dewey.
(b) Max Weber.
(c) Karl Marx.
(d) Thorstein Veblen.

3. Where does fascism originate?
(a) Among the middle classes who want to control the proletariat.
(b) Among the rich who are threatened by an outside group.
(c) Among the workers who seize control of the means of production.
(d) Among the poor who have nothing to establish power.

4. What did professor Hartmann dispute about the treatment of the Marx/Hegel dialectic?
(a) He objects that it is not a law of reality.
(b) He objects that it is only applicable in certain cases.
(c) He objects that it is not grounded in political science.
(d) He objects that it is based on pseudo-science.

5. Under what conditions can a state be democratic, in Bataille's opinion?
(a) When heterogeneity happens spontaneously.
(b) When homogeneity can be broken up peacefully.
(c) When homogeneity happens spontaneously.
(d) When heterogeneity can be controlled with force.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did fascists see Nietzsche?

2. Whom does Bataille say can never touch the reality of earth?

3. What does Bataille say scientists said about the dialectic?

4. What did fascism use Nietzsche's writing to oppose?

5. What does Bataille say democracy is based on?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does a man find himself in "The Labyrinth"?

2. How do Fascists define God, in Bataille's account in "Propositions"?

3. Briefly describe the theory of conspicuous consumption.

4. Describe Bataille's notion of potlatch.

5. What is Bataille's interpretation of Veblen's theory of conspicuous consumption?

6. What does Bataille say is the only true liberating act, in "Propositions"?

7. Summarize Nicolai Hartmann's interpretation of Hegel.

8. What does contemporary society offer men in "The Sacred Conspiracy", and what does man demand for himself?

9. What do Masson's drawing symbolize for Bataille?

10. What is the difference between homogeneous and heterogeneous culture as Bataille defines them in "Psychological Structure of Fascism"?

(see the answer keys)

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