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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. How does Beauvoir characterize the response of Western women when the structures that shelter them seem to be in danger?
(a) They become detached and unemotional.
(b) They become confused and bewildered to the point of despair.
(c) They drive themselves further into the subjection that makes them child like.
(d) They become harder, more bitter and even more furious or cruel than their masters.

2. What is a principle that Beauvoir states that an ethics of ambiguity will refuse to deny a priori?
(a) That "ethics of ambiguity" are as solipsistic as is existentialism.
(b) That, by definition, "ethics of ambiguity" must remained undefined.
(c) That separate existants can be bound to each other, such as individual freedoms can forge laws valid for all.
(d) That the most important element of "ethics of ambiguity" is to disallow them from defining the conduct of those outside their understanding.

3. How does Beauvoir suggest a past accomplishment can be made relevant in the present?
(a) By ceaselessly returning to it and justify it as part of the project with which the individual is currently involved.
(b) By keeping a record of all accomplishments to reflect upon those experiences with every decision.
(c) By comparing present acts to the acts of the past.
(d) By tracing the affects of the act from the past through to the present.

4. How does Beauvoir explain the differences between the conditions of Western women from that of children?
(a) Western women have left the life of children to accept the serious life.
(b) Children have no instrument to attack the civilization which oppresses them, but women have their charm and guile.
(c) The condition of children are forced upon them, but women choose their condition.
(d) Because of the voting privilege of Western societies, the opinions of women must be taken more seriously than children.

5. How does Beauvoir define the relationship of the "sub-man" to ethics and facticity?
(a) The "sub-man" accepts ethics as the facticity of his existence as unchangeable.
(b) The "sub-man" rejects ethics and feels only the facticity of his existence.
(c) The "sub-man" considers ethics and facticity as interchangeable.
(d) The "sub-man" rejects the ambiguity of ethics as influences over his facticity.

Short Answer Questions

1. Beauvoir claims that critics of existentialism claim that it is solipsistic. What is solipsism?

2. How does Beauvoir show how her example of moving through obstacles prove her arguments?

3. What irony does Beauvoir suggest contributes to the most optimistic ethics.

4. How does Beauvoir introduce the role of God in the discussion of ethics?

5. How does Beauvoir suggest a child has a state of security?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Beauvoir define the child's world?

2. What does Beauvoir suggest to be a flaw in Existential philosophy?

3. How does Beauvoir explain that nihilism becomes the desire for power?

4. How does Beauvoir define the serious man?

5. What does Beauvoir report that Sartre taught regarding the being of man?

6. How does Beauvoir describe the difference between Marxists and existentialist?

7. How does Beauvoir claim an individual makes himself a "sub-man"?

8. How does Beauvoir claim that man can rise to a higher moral freedom?

9. How does Beauvoir explain that willing bad is possible?

10. How does Beauvoir claim that man can find truth in his life?

(see the answer keys)

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