- 1. Justice as Fairness is a renowned philosophical concept articulated by the American philosopher John Rawls in his influential work, 'A Theory of Justice', published in 1971. Rawls proposes a framework for a just society based on the principles of fairness and equality, arguing that the distribution of social and economic goods should be arranged in such a way that it benefits the least advantaged members of society, a notion he describes as the 'difference principle'. He introduces the idea of the 'original position' and the 'veil of ignorance', a hypothetical scenario where individuals select the principles of justice without any knowledge of their personal circumstances, such as wealth, gender, race, or talents. This thought experiment aims to ensure impartiality; since no one knows their future place in society, they would choose principles that safeguard their rights and opportunities, leading to a more equitable society. Rawls emphasizes the importance of cooperative social arrangements where citizens can pursue their individual goals while maintaining a system of fair cooperation. His vision not only reshapes political philosophy but also provides a moral foundation for evaluating social institutions and policies, urging society to prioritize justice and fairness as fundamental components of a well-ordered community.
What is the name John Rawls gives to his theory of justice?
A) Justice as Equality
B) The Categorical Imperative
C) Justice as Fairness
D) The Utilitarian Principle
- 2. Rawls's theory is primarily a challenge to which school of thought?
A) Virtue Ethics
B) Moral Relativism
C) Utilitarianism
D) Divine Command Theory
- 3. What is the hypothetical situation used to derive the principles of justice?
A) The Trolley Problem
B) The Original Position
C) The Prisoner's Dilemma
D) The State of Nature
- 4. What is the first principle of justice Rawls proposes?
A) Distribution of wealth by merit
B) Equal basic liberties for all
C) Maximization of total utility
D) Freedom to acquire property
- 5. What is Rawls's second principle of justice often called?
A) The Principle of Need
B) The Principle of Merit
C) The Difference Principle
D) The Principle of Utility
- 6. The Difference Principle states that social and economic inequalities are permissible only if they...
A) Do not exceed a fixed limit
B) Benefit the least advantaged
C) Are approved by majority vote
D) Are earned by hard work
- 7. Rawls's theory is best described as a form of what?
A) Ethical Egoism
B) Virtue Ethics
C) Social Contract Theory
D) Moral Nihilism
- 8. What does Rawls mean by 'the basic structure' of society?
A) The family unit
B) Its main political and social institutions
C) The economic class system
D) The physical infrastructure
- 9. According to Rawls, the principles of justice are those that would be chosen by...
A) A benevolent dictator
B) A majority of citizens in a poll
C) Rational agents behind a veil of ignorance
D) An impartial spectator
- 10. What concept does Rawls use to describe a society that is stable for the right reasons?
A) A perfectly competitive society
B) A utopian society
C) A classless society
D) A well-ordered society
- 11. What does lexical ordering of the principles mean?
A) The second principle overrides the first
B) They are organized alphabetically
C) They are equally important
D) The first principle must be satisfied before the second
- 12. Rawls's theory is intended to apply to...
A) International relations only
B) Private family matters
C) The basic structure of society
D) Individual moral decisions
- 13. What is the main purpose of the Original Position?
A) To ensure fairness in choosing principles
B) To predict future social trends
C) To justify existing inequalities
D) To describe historical social contracts
- 14. What does Rawls mean by 'reflective equilibrium'?
A) Balancing principles with considered judgments
B) Political power balance
C) Psychological balance
D) Economic market equilibrium
- 15. Rawls's theory is best characterized as...
A) Deontological
B) Relativist
C) Virtue-based
D) Consequentialist
- 16. The Difference Principle applies to...
A) Social and economic inequalities
B) Personal moral virtues
C) Political liberties
D) International treaties
- 17. What does Rawls mean by 'fair equality of opportunity'?
A) That jobs are assigned by lottery
B) That everyone gets the same outcomes
C) That those with similar abilities should have similar chances
D) That inheritance should be abolished
- 18. Rawls's work 'A Theory of Justice' was first published in what year?
A) 1951
B) 1971
C) 1981
D) 1961
- 19. Which concept does Rawls use to argue that his principles would be chosen over utilitarianism?
A) The golden mean
B) The invisible hand
C) The maximin rule
D) The principle of utility
- 20. According to Rawls, the principles of justice have:
A) Equal weight.
B) Reverse priority.
C) Lexical priority.
D) No order of importance.
- 21. Which philosopher's work was most influential on Rawls?
A) Immanuel Kant
B) Friedrich Nietzsche
C) John Stuart Mill
D) Thomas Hobbes
- 22. According to Rawls, natural talents should be considered...
A) Irrelevant to justice
B) A common asset
C) Personal property to exploit
D) Divine gifts
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