- 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) The Utilitarian Principle
D) Justice as Fairness
- 2. Rawls's theory is primarily a challenge to which school of thought?
A) Virtue Ethics
B) Divine Command Theory
C) Moral Relativism
D) Utilitarianism
- 3. What is the hypothetical situation used to derive the principles of justice?
A) The Prisoner's Dilemma
B) The Original Position
C) The Trolley Problem
D) The State of Nature
- 4. What is the first principle of justice Rawls proposes?
A) Maximization of total utility
B) Freedom to acquire property
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 Merit
C) The Principle of Utility
D) The Principle of Need
- 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 earned by hard work
D) Are approved by majority vote
- 7. Rawls's theory is best described as a form of what?
A) Virtue Ethics
B) Ethical Egoism
C) Moral Nihilism
D) Social Contract Theory
- 8. What does Rawls mean by 'the basic structure' of society?
A) The physical infrastructure
B) Its main political and social institutions
C) The family unit
D) The economic class system
- 9. According to Rawls, the principles of justice are those that would be chosen by...
A) A majority of citizens in a poll
B) A benevolent dictator
C) An impartial spectator
D) Rational agents behind a veil of ignorance
- 10. What concept does Rawls use to describe a society that is stable for the right reasons?
A) A well-ordered society
B) A classless society
C) A utopian society
D) A perfectly competitive society
- 11. What does lexical ordering of the principles mean?
A) They are equally important
B) The second principle overrides the first
C) They are organized alphabetically
D) The first principle must be satisfied before the second
- 12. Rawls's theory is intended to apply to...
A) Private family matters
B) Individual moral decisions
C) The basic structure of society
D) International relations only
- 13. What is the main purpose of the Original Position?
A) To justify existing inequalities
B) To predict future social trends
C) To describe historical social contracts
D) To ensure fairness in choosing principles
- 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) Consequentialist
D) Virtue-based
- 16. The Difference Principle applies to...
A) Social and economic inequalities
B) International treaties
C) Political liberties
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 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) 1971
B) 1961
C) 1981
D) 1951
- 19. Which concept does Rawls use to argue that his principles would be chosen over utilitarianism?
A) The principle of utility
B) The golden mean
C) The invisible hand
D) The maximin rule
- 20. According to Rawls, the principles of justice have:
A) Reverse priority.
B) No order of importance.
C) Equal weight.
D) Lexical priority.
- 21. Which philosopher's work was most influential on Rawls?
A) Friedrich Nietzsche
B) Immanuel Kant
C) Thomas Hobbes
D) John Stuart Mill
- 22. According to Rawls, natural talents should be considered...
A) A common asset
B) Irrelevant to justice
C) Personal property to exploit
D) Divine gifts
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