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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Rawls accept about his own theory?
(a) That it might be hard to apply to the real world.
(b) That it is quite socialist.
(c) That there is a degree of Marxism within it.
(d) That there is a certain amount of Intuitionism present in 'fairness'.

2. What does the Individual lose from the Social Contract?
(a) The right to defend themselves.
(b) All their freedoms.
(c) The right to own property.
(d) Complete freedom.

3. Why did Hobbes see the necessity of the Social Contract?
(a) Because he thought that was the law of nature.
(b) Because he thought people were naturally brutish.
(c) Because he thought people were stupid.
(d) Because he thought it would help the British Empire.

4. Why is the argument called the Original Position?
(a) Because it was the first argument Rawls thought of.
(b) Because it is about the first thing that a person sees when they wake up.
(c) Because it comes before everything else.
(d) Because it was a very early argument that Rawls revived.

5. What does the Individual gain out of the Social Contract?
(a) Protection and security.
(b) Power and glory.
(c) Money and wealth.
(d) Military might.

6. What is another name for the Original Position?
(a) The Waiting Room Argument.
(b) The Brain in the Vat Argument.
(c) The First Argument.
(d) The Man in the Barrel Argument.

7. What does Rawls claim about the Social Contract theory?
(a) It is better than Marxism.
(b) It is ridiculous.
(c) It is better than Utilitarian theory.
(d) It is the only philosophy that makes sense.

8. What is the Veil of Ignorance in Rawls' argument?
(a) A garment worn by politicians.
(b) A metaphor for a different type of belief.
(c) A metaphor for not being able to tell what kind of society one will later be in.
(d) A metaphor to describe different types of citizens.

9. Which century was Intuitionism first developed?
(a) Fifteenth.
(b) Sixteenth.
(c) Seventeenth.
(d) Eighteenth.

10. What is the maxim of Utilitarian philosophy?
(a) Might makes right.
(b) The greatest good for the greatest number.
(c) The greatest good to the deserving.
(d) The greatest good to the wealthiest.

11. Where did the early Intuitionists believe they got their appreciation of morals, rights and wrongs or fairness?
(a) The king.
(b) Nature.
(c) Their parents.
(d) God.

12. How does the ignorant chooser know what is fair and what is not, according to Rawls?
(a) Because they are taught what to believe.
(b) Because the monarch told them so.
(c) Because God told them so.
(d) Because of an innate knowledge of fairness.

13. Why does Utilitarian thinking not really understand the difference between persons?
(a) It perceives persons only as voters.
(b) That different people’s situations mean different levels of happiness, contentment or suffering.
(c) Utilitarianism is never applied to the society.
(d) Utilitarianism is never applied to the individual.

14. What does Rawls want his theory of justice to be?
(a) Something to remember.
(b) The dominant political view.
(c) A viable alternative to other theories.
(d) Something to destroy the theories of Utilitarianism.

15. What is the greatest criticism levelled against Utilitarianism?
(a) That majority views are ignored.
(b) That minority views are ignored.
(c) It is not strong enough.
(d) It's not realistic.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who was the father of Utilitarianism?

2. Who should hold the greatest advantage in Rawls’ ideal society?

3. What is the first virtue of social institution, according to Rawls?

4. What branch of philosophy is this book concerned with?

5. Whom of the following was a leading 'Intuitionist'?

(see the answer keys)

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