The Ethics Of Ambiguity

In Part I, de Beauvoir compares the tenets of Marxism to existentialism, particularly in their view on freedom. How does de Beauvoir’s system of ethics align with Marxism? How does it diverge?

The devastating effects of World War II have an enormous influence on The Ethics of Ambiguity. Could this text have been written in a time of peace?

In Part I, de Beauvoir writes that “subjectivity is absorbed into the objectivity of the given world. Revolt, need, hope, rejection, and desire are only the resultants of external forces. The psychology of behavior endeavors to explain this alchemy” (19). Considering what you know about human freedom, unpack the meaning of this sentence and explain how the concept of subjectivity fits into de Beauvoir’s overall existential ethicsschema.

De Beauvoir considers the real-life example of black slaves, saying that “the situation of the black slaves was exactly an infantile situation” (40). How might racial bias of the era affect this sentiment? Discuss the problematic belief systems—for example, racism or sexism—and how they might affect the text.

De Beauvoir is perhaps best known for her contribution to feminist thought inThe Second Sex, which was released in 1949 just after The Ethics of Ambiguity was published. In what ways does feminism manifest inThe Ethics of Ambiguity? Discuss how this text might have laid the groundwork for a larger meditation on feminism in The Second Sex.

In Part II, de Beauvoir lists the archetype “ways of being.” She writes that “the passionate man is, in a way, the antithesis of the adventurer” (68). Drawing on what you know of the rest of the archetypes, explain what she means by this. Are any of the other types antithesis to each other? Be sure to frame your assessment in terms of each archetype’s relationship to freedom.

From Dada to Cezanne, art and artists come up in discussion at several points throughthe text. In the ethical existentialist universe that de Beauvoir has laid out, what role does art have in this world?

De Beauvoir wrote The Ethics of Ambiguity with the intention of creating a practical ethical guide on how to live one’s life. Do you think she succeeded in doing so? Do you see applications in your own life?