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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

3. 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.

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

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

6. Who should hold the greatest advantage in Rawls’ ideal society?
(a) The rich.
(b) The royals.
(c) No one.
(d) The poor.

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

8. 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.

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

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

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

12. 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 a scientific truth.
(d) That there is some form of agreement between Individual and government.

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

14. 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.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did Hobbes see the necessity of the Social Contract?

2. What do Intuitionist' believe in?

3. What is another name for the Original Position?

4. How, according to Rawls, does justice help to assign rights and duties?

5. What is the essential problem of Intuitionism?

(see the answer keys)

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