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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Rawls want his theory of justice to be?

2. What is another name for the Original Position?

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

4. What is the Veil of Ignorance in Rawls' argument?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What, according to Rawls, are other notions of justice?

2. What does Rawls accept would happen in the Original Position?

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

4. What is the veil of ignorance?

5. According to the chapter “The Original Position,” what do we have to assume about the individual's rational capabilities?

6. What does Rawls hope to do with this Theory of Justice?

7. Who does the individual have a contract with, according to the Social Contract Theory?

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

9. How did John Stuart Mill seek to redefine the Utilitarian maxim?

10. How do Intuitionists justify their innate knowledges?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In his theory of Justice as Fairness, Rawls claims that some degree of economic inequality would be acceptable. Consider the claims of the recent 99% and Occupy movements and the Global Banking Crisis. Could Rawls still make this claim?

Essay Topic 2

Contrast Rawls’ Original Position of a an individual wanting fairness over all things with Nietzsche's view that human nature has the drive to be strong (the Will-to-Power).

Essay Topic 3

What is the nature of rights in Rawl's position? When are they established and why?

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