ThatQuiz Test Library Take this test now
Anarchy, State And Utopia by Robert Nozick
Contributed by: Davies
  • 1. Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick is a seminal philosophical work published in 1974 that critically examines the concepts of individual rights, the legitimacy of the state, and the moral underpinnings of a utopian society. In this book, Nozick presents a libertarian argument against the redistributive state and advocates for a minimal state, which he argues should only exist to protect individuals' rights to life, liberty, and property. Nozick engages deeply with the theories of justice proposed by his contemporary, John Rawls, particularly challenging the idea of distributive justice that seeks to rectify social and economic inequalities. He introduces the famous 'Entitlement Theory' of justice, which posits that holdings are just if they arise from just acquisition, transfer, or rectification of past injustices. Through thought experiments like the 'Experience Machine' and the 'Utopian Communities,' Nozick encourages readers to consider the nature of individual fulfillment and the complexities of societal organization. Overall, the book is not only a defense of libertarian principles but also a profound inquiry into the philosophical implications of freedom, authority, and the nature of a just society.

    According to Nozick, what is the 'minimal state'?
A) A state limited to protecting against force, fraud, and enforcing contracts
B) A completely stateless society
C) A global government
D) A state that provides comprehensive social welfare
  • 2. Nozick argues that the minimal state is:
A) Unjustified and should be abolished
B) Identical to an anarchist society
C) Justified and the most extensive state that can be justified
D) A necessary evil
  • 3. What does Nozick's Wilt Chamberlain argument aim to challenge?
A) The legitimacy of private property
B) Patterned and end-state principles of distributive justice
C) The existence of the minimal state
D) The concept of self-ownership
  • 4. Nozick's entitlement theory consists of three main principles concerning:
A) Justice in distribution, equality, and need
B) Justice in contribution, reward, and punishment
C) Justice in lawmaking, enforcement, and adjudication
D) Justice in acquisition, transfer, and rectification
  • 5. What is the 'principle of rectification' concerned with?
A) Punishing criminals for their offenses
B) Establishing fair procedures for the future
C) Redistributing wealth to achieve equality
D) Correcting injustices in past acquisitions and transfers
  • 6. Nozick is primarily critical of the theories of which philosopher?
A) Karl Marx
B) Immanuel Kant
C) John Locke
D) John Rawls
  • 7. For Nozick, what is the fundamental right from which other rights are derived?
A) The right to self-ownership
B) The right to welfare
C) The right to equality
D) The right to vote
  • 8. What term does Nozick use to describe theories that require redistribution to maintain a specific pattern?
A) Egalitarian principles
B) Libertarian principles
C) Patterned principles
D) Utilitarian principles
  • 9. According to Nozick, taxation of earnings from labor is equivalent to:
A) Forced labor
B) A form of charity
C) A necessary public good
D) A voluntary social contract
  • 10. What is the 'ultraminimal state'?
A) A global anarchist federation
B) A state that provides universal healthcare
C) A state that protects only those who pay for its services
D) A state with no functions at all
  • 11. Nozick's theory is a prominent example of:
A) Utilitarianism
B) Socialism
C) Communitarianism
D) Libertarianism
  • 12. What does Nozick mean by 'justice in holdings'?
A) The legal rules for owning property
B) The fair distribution of corporate shares
C) How much wealth a person should hold
D) Whether a person's possessions are legitimately owned
  • 13. The phrase 'liberty upsets patterns' refers to the idea that:
A) Free exchange will disrupt any pre-set distribution pattern
B) Patterns of distribution enhance liberty
C) Liberty is itself a patterned concept
D) Government patterns are necessary for liberty
  • 14. What is the 'Lockean Proviso' that Nozick modifies?
A) The right to rebel against a tyrannical government
B) The labor theory of property acquisition
C) The idea that all men are created equal
D) The condition that property acquisition must leave 'enough and as good' for others
  • 15. Nozick's theory is historical because it judges justice based on:
A) The current pattern of distribution
B) The intentions of the distributor
C) How the distribution came about
D) The future consequences of distribution
  • 16. What is the 'framework for utopia' Nozick describes?
A) A detailed blueprint for a perfect society
B) A minimal state where people can form voluntary communities
C) A global communist state
D) A single, mandatory way of life for all
  • 17. The term 'emergent' in Nozick's argument refers to how the state arises:
A) As a result of class conflict
B) Through evolutionary necessity
C) Spontaneously from individual actions, not by design
D) From a deliberate constitutional convention
  • 18. What does Nozick call his theory of distributive justice?
A) The communitarian theory
B) The utility principle
C) The difference principle
D) The entitlement theory
  • 19. What famous thought experiment does Nozick use to argue against patterned theories of justice?
A) The veil of ignorance
B) The trolley problem
C) The prisoner's dilemma
D) The Wilt Chamberlain argument
  • 20. Nozick's minimal state is justified through an 'invisible hand' explanation, meaning it:
A) Arises without violating anyone's rights
B) Evolves from a state of nature war
C) Is imposed by a powerful ruler
D) Is created by a social contract
  • 21. Nozick argues that patterned principles of justice require:
A) Voluntary cooperation only
B) Continuous interference with liberty
C) The abolition of money
D) A single world government
  • 22. Nozick's political philosophy is best described as...
A) Socialist
B) Communitarian
C) Conservative
D) Libertarian
Created with That Quiz — the site for test creation and grading in math and other subjects.