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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through The Original Position.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What does Rawls think a person would decide about their society if they had any choice?
(a) That it be at least a beautiful land.
(b) That it be at least a wealthy society.
(c) That it would be at least fair.
(d) That it would be at least a strong society.

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

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

5. What is John Stuart Mill's Theory of Higher Pleasures?
(a) The belief that feelings are better pleasures than stability, wealth or objects.
(b) The belief that one should spend the most money on the finest things in life.
(c) The belief that intellectualism, refinement and poetry are better pleasures that dancing, lust or wealth.
(d) The belief that going to church is the highest form of pleasure.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do Intuitionist' believe in?

2. What defines a good society, according to Rawls?

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

4. How does the ignorant chooser know what is fair and what is not, according to Rawls?

5. Why is the argument called the Original Position?

(see the answer key)

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