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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In what era was the theory of the Social Contract in favor?
(a) The Dark Ages.
(b) The Enlightenment.
(c) The Modern Era.
(d) The Renaissance.

2. Who was the father of Utilitarianism?
(a) Spinoza.
(b) David Hume.
(c) Jesus Christ.
(d) Karl Marx.

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

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

5. How, according to Rawls, does justice help to assign rights and duties?
(a) It enforces the law.
(b) It states who has the power and who doesn't.
(c) It ensures that some people get more duties than others.
(d) It ensures that there is an equal distribution of such.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13. What is the essential problem of Intuitionism?
(a) Some people do not seem to act with a natural morality.
(b) It doesn't support a healthy economy.
(c) It makes defending one’s country more difficult.
(d) Many philosophers don't agree with it.

14. Whom of the following was a leading 'Intuitionist'?
(a) Socrates.
(b) J.S. Mill.
(c) John Hurt.
(d) John Locke.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What is another name for the Original Position?

2. In the chapter “The Original Position,” what does Rawls say must be assumed about the person?

3. What does Rawls want his theory of justice to be?

4. What is the maxim of Utilitarian philosophy?

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

(see the answer keys)

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