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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. Under what conditions can a state be democratic, in Bataille's opinion?

2. What results from acting in specialized areas, in Bataille's opinion in "The Labyrinth"?

3. What claim does Bataille make in "The Obelisk"?

4. What are the two forms of heterogeneity Bataille introduces in "Psychological Structure of Fascism"?

5. Who developed the theory of conspicuous consumption?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What aspect of Nietzsche's philosophy did the Fascists appropriate, in Bataille's account in "Nietzsche and the Fascists"?

3. How does Bataille portray Engels' interpretation of Hegel's philosophy in "The Critique of the Foundations of the Hegelian Dialectic"?

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

5. Summarize Nicolai Hartmann's interpretation of Hegel.

6. How did Nietzsche respond to the decay of his culture, according to Bataille's essay "Nietzschean Chronicle"?

7. What pattern for self-discovery does Bataille offer in "The Sacred"?

8. Briefly describe the theory of conspicuous consumption.

9. What flaw does Bataille identify in dialectic philosophy in "The Critique of the Foundations of the Hegelian Dialectic"?

10. How does the artist give meaning in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bataille uses the thoughts of Thorstein Veblen in "The Notion of Expenditure", but he is not merely following Veblen. What use does Bataille put Veblen's thoughts to, and how does Veblen's idea of conspicuous consumption fit into Bataille's overall value scheme?

Essay Topic 2

How did the Popular Front fulfill Bataille's ideal of heterogeneity? Analyze his description of the organization in relation with his other essays about revolution and order.

Essay Topic 3

Assess the claim that Bataille's thinking cannot be reduced to a particular theme or set of values. What is the role of multiplicity and contradiction in Bataille's writing?

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