- 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) The Utilitarian Principle
B) Justice as Equality
C) The Categorical Imperative
D) Justice as Fairness
- 2. Rawls's theory is primarily a challenge to which school of thought?
A) Divine Command Theory
B) Virtue Ethics
C) Utilitarianism
D) Moral Relativism
- 3. What is the hypothetical situation used to derive the principles of justice?
A) The Prisoner's Dilemma
B) The Trolley Problem
C) The State of Nature
D) The Original Position
- 4. What is the first principle of justice Rawls proposes?
A) Freedom to acquire property
B) Distribution of wealth by merit
C) Equal basic liberties for all
D) Maximization of total utility
- 5. What is Rawls's second principle of justice often called?
A) The Principle of Utility
B) The Difference Principle
C) The Principle of Need
D) The Principle of Merit
- 6. The Difference Principle states that social and economic inequalities are permissible only if they...
A) Do not exceed a fixed limit
B) Are approved by majority vote
C) Are earned by hard work
D) Benefit the least advantaged
- 7. Rawls's theory is best described as a form of what?
A) Moral Nihilism
B) Social Contract Theory
C) Virtue Ethics
D) Ethical Egoism
- 8. What does Rawls mean by 'the basic structure' of society?
A) The economic class system
B) Its main political and social institutions
C) The family unit
D) The physical infrastructure
- 9. According to Rawls, the principles of justice are those that would be chosen by...
A) Rational agents behind a veil of ignorance
B) A majority of citizens in a poll
C) An impartial spectator
D) A benevolent dictator
- 10. What concept does Rawls use to describe a society that is stable for the right reasons?
A) A classless society
B) A well-ordered society
C) A utopian society
D) A perfectly competitive society
- 11. What does lexical ordering of the principles mean?
A) The first principle must be satisfied before the second
B) They are equally important
C) The second principle overrides the first
D) They are organized alphabetically
- 12. Rawls's theory is intended to apply to...
A) International relations only
B) The basic structure of society
C) Individual moral decisions
D) Private family matters
- 13. What is the main purpose of the Original Position?
A) To describe historical social contracts
B) To justify existing inequalities
C) To predict future social trends
D) To ensure fairness in choosing principles
- 14. What does Rawls mean by 'reflective equilibrium'?
A) Psychological balance
B) Economic market equilibrium
C) Balancing principles with considered judgments
D) Political power balance
- 15. Rawls's theory is best characterized as...
A) Virtue-based
B) Consequentialist
C) Deontological
D) Relativist
- 16. The Difference Principle applies to...
A) Political liberties
B) International treaties
C) Social and economic inequalities
D) Personal moral virtues
- 17. What does Rawls mean by 'fair equality of opportunity'?
A) That inheritance should be abolished
B) That jobs are assigned by lottery
C) That everyone gets the same outcomes
D) That those with similar abilities should have similar chances
- 18. Rawls's work 'A Theory of Justice' was first published in what year?
A) 1961
B) 1971
C) 1951
D) 1981
- 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) Lexical priority.
B) Reverse priority.
C) No order of importance.
D) Equal weight.
- 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) Personal property to exploit
C) A common asset
D) Divine gifts
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