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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What does Rawls think a person would decide about their society if they had any choice?
(a) That it be at least a wealthy society.
(b) That it would be at least fair.
(c) That it would be at least a strong society.
(d) That it be at least a beautiful land.

Short Answer Questions

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

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

3. What branch of philosophy is this book concerned with?

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

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Adam Smith believe that Utilitarian economics were the best possible system?

2. How do Intuitionists justify their innate knowledges?

3. Why does Social Contract Theory work so well with a Theory of Rights?

4. What does it seem rational that the hypothetical person in the Original Position chooses?

5. What is the problem of inclusion in the Social Contract Theory?

6. How does Rawls seek to 'fix' or solve Intuitionism?

7. What is the popular definition of a Utilitarian object?

8. What is the maxim of Utilitarian theory?

9. What is the definition of the 'good' society in Rawls’ view?

10. According to the Social Contract Theory, what does the individual willingly sacrifice, and what are they rewarded in return?

(see the answer keys)

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