- 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 Fairness
B) Justice as Equality
C) The Utilitarian Principle
D) The Categorical Imperative
- 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 Trolley Problem
B) The Prisoner's Dilemma
C) The Original Position
D) The State of Nature
- 4. What is the first principle of justice Rawls proposes?
A) Freedom to acquire property
B) Maximization of total utility
C) Equal basic liberties for all
D) Distribution of wealth by merit
- 5. What is Rawls's second principle of justice often called?
A) The Difference Principle
B) The Principle of Need
C) The Principle of Merit
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) Are earned by hard work
C) Benefit the least advantaged
D) Are approved by majority vote
- 7. Rawls's theory is best described as a form of what?
A) Social Contract Theory
B) Ethical Egoism
C) Virtue Ethics
D) Moral Nihilism
- 8. What does Rawls mean by 'the basic structure' of society?
A) The family unit
B) The economic class system
C) Its main political and social institutions
D) The physical infrastructure
- 9. According to Rawls, the principles of justice are those that would be chosen by...
A) A benevolent dictator
B) Rational agents behind a veil of ignorance
C) An impartial spectator
D) A majority of citizens in a poll
- 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 well-ordered society
D) A classless 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) The basic structure of society
B) Private family matters
C) International relations only
D) Individual moral decisions
- 13. What is the main purpose of the Original Position?
A) To justify existing inequalities
B) To ensure fairness in choosing principles
C) To describe historical social contracts
D) To predict future social trends
- 14. What does Rawls mean by 'reflective equilibrium'?
A) Economic market equilibrium
B) Political power balance
C) Balancing principles with considered judgments
D) Psychological balance
- 15. Rawls's theory is best characterized as...
A) Deontological
B) Consequentialist
C) Relativist
D) Virtue-based
- 16. The Difference Principle applies to...
A) Political liberties
B) International treaties
C) Personal moral virtues
D) Social and economic inequalities
- 17. What does Rawls mean by 'fair equality of opportunity'?
A) That jobs are assigned by lottery
B) That inheritance should be abolished
C) That those with similar abilities should have similar chances
D) That everyone gets the same outcomes
- 18. Rawls's work 'A Theory of Justice' was first published in what year?
A) 1961
B) 1971
C) 1981
D) 1951
- 19. Which concept does Rawls use to argue that his principles would be chosen over utilitarianism?
A) The invisible hand
B) The maximin rule
C) The principle of utility
D) The golden mean
- 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) John Stuart Mill
C) Friedrich Nietzsche
D) Thomas Hobbes
- 22. According to Rawls, natural talents should be considered...
A) Irrelevant to justice
B) Divine gifts
C) Personal property to exploit
D) A common asset
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