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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. What is John Stuart Mill's Theory of Higher Pleasures?
(a) The belief that one should spend the most money on the finest things in life.
(b) The belief that intellectualism, refinement and poetry are better pleasures that dancing, lust or wealth.
(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. Whom of the following was a leading 'Intuitionist'?
(a) John Locke.
(b) Socrates.
(c) John Hurt.
(d) J.S. Mill.

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

10. 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.

11. 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 would be at least fair.
(c) That it be at least a wealthy society.
(d) That it would be at least a strong society.

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

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

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

2. Why is the argument called the Original Position?

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

4. What is the essential problem of Intuitionism?

5. What is the maxim of Utilitarian philosophy?

(see the answer keys)

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