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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. What do Intuitionist' believe in?
(a) That good and wrong are taught.
(b) That good and wrong are innately known.
(c) That good and wrong are revealed by God to the select few.
(d) That good and wrong are illusions told by the rich.

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

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

10. What is the implicit assumption that the Social Contract theory makes?
(a) That there is a scientific truth.
(b) That there is some form of agreement between Individual and government.
(c) That there is a God.
(d) That everyone intrinsically knows right from wrong.

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

12. 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 beautiful land.
(c) That it would be at least fair.
(d) That it be at least a wealthy society.

13. What defines a good society, according to Rawls?
(a) A wealthy society.
(b) A society that owns the most land.
(c) A strong society.
(d) A just society.

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Rawls believe is the dominant theory of political philosophy throughout the 20th Century?

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

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

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

5. What is the essential problem of Intuitionism?

(see the answer keys)

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