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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In the chapter “The Original Position,” what does Rawls say must be assumed about the person?
(a) That they are wealthy.
(b) That they are a rational person.
(c) That they know the principles of philosophy.
(d) That they are tall.

2. 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 individual.
(d) Utilitarianism is never applied to the society.

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

4. What branch of philosophy is this book concerned with?
(a) Epistemology.
(b) Metaphysics.
(c) Political.
(d) Skeptical.

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

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

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

8. 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 there is a certain amount of Intuitionism present in 'fairness'.
(d) That it might be hard to apply to the real world.

9. What is the first virtue of social institution, according to Rawls?
(a) Wealth.
(b) Strength.
(c) Justice.
(d) Militarism.

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

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

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 the monarch told them so.
(c) Because God told them so.
(d) Because they are taught what to believe.

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

14. What does Rawls believe is the dominant theory of political philosophy throughout the 20th Century?
(a) Ontology.
(b) Socialism.
(c) Utilitarianism.
(d) Republicanism.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the essential problem of Intuitionism?

2. What does the Individual gain out of the Social Contract?

3. What is John Stuart Mill's Theory of Higher Pleasures?

4. What does Rawls think a person would decide about their society if they had any choice?

5. What is the Veil of Ignorance in Rawls' argument?

(see the answer keys)

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