View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Beauvoir claim that no project can be considered to be purely contemplative?
(a) Because projects are contemplated differently by others who act differently from their perspectives.
(b) Because projects are contemplated in the present to be completed in the future and become part of the past.
(c) Because a project requires putting action to contemplation.
(d) Because an individual is continually projects himself toward something in the future through a project.

2. When does Beauvoir suggest an individual might adopt the Aesthetic Attitude?
(a) During times of oppression.
(b) During efforts of an individual to will themselves free.
(c) When he recognizes that his freedom is secured when he is not with others.
(d) During moments of discouragement and confusion.

3. Why does Beauvoir suggest that the idea of the ambiguity of existence should not be considered absurd?
(a) Because clinging to labeling challenging ideas as absurd only limits intellectual investigation.
(b) Because to consider the ambiguity of existence absurd is to shut down debate that can define human existence.
(c) Because to consider the idea that human existence is ambiguous is to deny that human existence can ever be given a meaning.
(d) Because to consider the ambiguity of existence as absurd is, itself, absurd.

4. What type of individual does Beauvoir claim adopts the Aesthetic Attitude?
(a) One who uses his freedom to guide others to consider the world in detached contemplation.
(b) One who detaches freedom from will.
(c) One who only contemplates his freedom while he is among others.
(d) One who claims to have no other relation with the world than that of detached contemplation.

5. Why does Beauvoir suggest that if man waits for universal peace to establish his existence validly, he will wait indefinitely?
(a) Because the world has always been at war and always will be.
(b) Because it is man's reaction to war that establishes validity.
(c) Because peace is not required to establish validity.
(d) Because struggles for controlling the future by politicians will prevent universal peace.

6. What does Beauvoir mean when she refers to "The Antinomies of Action"?
(a) That the intentions of the those who act against oppression must be constantly in check.
(b) That actions, not words, are most effective against oppression.
(c) That improper actions against oppression will lead to more oppression.
(d) That often in the fight for or against oppression, the action contradicts the motivation.

7. What does Beauvoir report to be Marx' view of the future?
(a) The future is organic because it is built on the lives and sacrifices of the past.
(b) The future is not stationary because the mind is restless and the struggle for the future never ceases.
(c) The future can only be affected if one accepts the validity of the projects they take as contributing to it.
(d) The future will only begin when the socialist state ends prehistory and begins real history.

8. How does Beauvoir explain that an individual might be responsible for what they accept, but not guilty for acting upon it?
(a) An individual is responsible for what he learns because he takes time to learn it, but he is not guilty for those who face unintended consequences.
(b) An individual is responsible for what he learns in the world because he is responsible for his presence, but he is not guilty if his adhesion to beliefs is not a resignation of his freedom.
(c) An individual is responsible for what he learns because he applies it, but he is not guilty because those who are affected have freedom to reject him.
(d) An individual is responsible for what he learns because he can reject it, but he is not guilty for actions that come from his teaching.

9. Of what does Beauvoir accuse political parties in their effort to control the ambiguity of the human condition?
(a) Abuse of language.
(b) Glorifying war.
(c) Creating conflicts.
(d) Making contradictory statements to appeal to all people.

10. What does Beauvoir suggest of movements whose means of achieving a goal contradicts the goal?
(a) The action will set off a chain of events that will negate the goal.
(b) The goal and the individual will be disregarded.
(c) The individual who takes such an approach will become a politician.
(d) The whole enterprise sinks into absurdity.

11. How does Beauvoir illustrate her example proves her point that, "festivals stop the movement of transcendence?"
(a) Christians allow the influences of pagan observances to obscure the principles of the Bible.
(b) Throughout history empires leave the discipline that made their systems transcendent for the pleasures found during festivals.
(c) Pagans who adopt Christian labels for the celebrations are starting the process of renouncing their paganism.
(d) The festival regarding the liberation of Paris allowed people to temporarily ignore the coming difficulties that were to come to their post-war society.

12. According to Beauvoir, what stops an individual's life from appearing as a negligible thing?
(a) When the individual grasps the impact of his ambiguity on his freedom
(b) When the individual sees his freedom as integral to his ambiguity.
(c) When the individual is set up as a unique and irreducible value.
(d) When an individual's life is set as a model for practicing freedom.

13. What knowledge comes to the man who has known real loves, real revolts, real desires and real will according to Beauvoir?
(a) He has grasped his ambiguity.
(b) He knows freedom.
(c) He has reached transcendence.
(d) He has no need of any outside guarantee to be sure of his goals.

14. What Beauvoir claim to happen to a democratic regime that defends itself by acts of oppression?
(a) It faces the possibility of becoming oppressive.
(b) It is embracing the ambiguity of existence.
(c) It is pursuing political goals.
(d) It betrays its virtues.

15. When an individual aims at a goal that will be achieved beyond his own death, what does Beauvoir claim the individual should expect from the time given to the goal?
(a) The individual should expect a festival be given in his honor.
(b) The individual should expect those who share his vision accept his means.
(c) The individual should not expect anything of that time for which he worked.
(d) The individual should expect his virtues to be challenged through his effort.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is a flaw that Beauvoir claims some people make about their present situation regarding the natures of human nature and the present?

2. How does Beauvoir claim an individual can prevent life from being defined as an escape toward nothingness?

3. How will an oppressor use history to justify his oppression, according to Beauvoir?

4. What example does Beauvoir use to illustrate "...festivals (that) stop the movement of transcendence?"

5. What does Beauvoir claim is needed to make an ethical choice in a complex situation?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,297 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample