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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 believe is the dominant theory of political philosophy throughout the 20th Century?

2. What does the Individual gain out of the Social Contract?

3. What is the maxim of Utilitarian philosophy?

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

5. Where did the early Intuitionists believe they got their appreciation of morals, rights and wrongs or fairness?

Short Essay Questions

1. What concept do Utilitarian thinkers seek to redefine in their own theory?

2. What was the rival school to Utilitarian thought during the 20th Century?

3. Why is Utilitarian theory so easy to maintain?

4. What is one of the prime problems for the Intuitionist?

5. In what way would the German philosopher Nietzsche argue against the Original Position?

6. Why is it important that we have a Just society?

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

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

9. When was Intuitionism first developed?

10. Why does Rawls prefer the Social Contract Theory?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are the sorts of essential inequalities that Rawls allows to exist in his vision of the just society? Do you agree that they are unavoidable?

Essay Topic 2

Evaluate Rawls’ claim that humans have a natural appreciation of fairness.

Essay Topic 3

Does Rawls believe in trickle-down wealth (the Right-wing) or state support and welfare (the Left Wing). Or is his views a marriage of the two?

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