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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

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

4. 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 are tall.
(d) That they know the principles of philosophy.

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

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

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

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

9. 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 feelings are better pleasures than stability, wealth or objects.
(c) The belief that one should spend the most money on the finest things in life.
(d) The belief that going to church is the highest form of pleasure.

10. 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 a strong society.
(d) That it would be at least fair.

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

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

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Who was the father of Utilitarianism?

2. What is the implicit assumption that the Social Contract theory makes?

3. Which century was Intuitionism first developed?

4. What is the maxim of Utilitarian philosophy?

5. What does the Individual lose from the Social Contract?

(see the answer keys)

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