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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. What does Beauvoir identify as the certain truth contained in the nihilist attitude?

2. What is the point at which existentialism is opposed to dialectic materialism according to Beauvoir?

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

4. How does Beauvoir define the relationship of the "sub-man" to ethics and facticity?

5. How does Beauvoir explain what Descartes meant when he said that the freedom of man is infinite, but this power is limited?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Beauvoir, how have existentialists defined their philosophy?

2. To what does Beauvoir credit the development of many different philosophical world views?

3. How does Beauvoir claim that man can disclose being?

4. How does Beauvoir claim that spontaneity affects man's freedom?

5. How does Beauvoir relate nature of man's existence to the past, present, and future in Part I?

6. What does Beauvoir suggest causes the infantile world to begin to pass away by adolescence?

7. What are two descriptions that Beauvoir gives to man at the beginning of Part I, Ambiguity and Freedom?

8. How does Beauvoir claim that the truly free will is produced?

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

10. What does Beauvoir point out as the difference between the passionate man and the adventurer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Does Beauvoir consider the source of oppression to be individuals or a natural state that people accept and use for their own purposes. Explain your answer with support from "The Ethics of Ambiguity" and at least one example from history or current events.

Essay Topic 2

Beauvoir refers to Karl Marx throughout "The Ethics of Ambiguity". Analyze Beauvoir's position on Marxism through her several references. Cite your agreement or disagreement with Beauvoir's position based history of communism since 1948 and commentaries by either Marx or detractors of Marxism.

Essay Topic 3

Beauvoir suggests that, "a genuine man," rejects, "foreign absolutes," and instead strive, "to be right in his own eyes." Do you agree or disagree? Can freedom for all be achieved when everyone is striving, "to be right in his own eyes?" Explain your answer using evidence from history or current events. Give your analysis as to whether Beauvoir's position on this issue strengthens or diminishes her work.

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