Question 1

According to John Rawls, people in "the original position" choose the principles of justice on the basis of

Accepted Answer

A)   social utility.
B)   their religion.
C)   self-interest.
D)   their intuitive knowledge of the natural rights of all human beings. C

Question 2

John Rawls' Theory of Justice lays within which type of tradition?

Accepted Answer

A)   All for one and one for all.
B)   Principled living.
C)   Feudal society.
D)   Social contract. D

Question 3

Libertarianism involves a commitment to leaving market relations - buying, selling, and other exchanges - totally unrestricted.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

The difference principle of Rawls states

Accepted Answer

A)   we are all created equal.
B)   inequalities are only justified if they benefit the least advantaged.
C)   we all deserve the same.
D)   some do deserve more than others.

Question 5

The veil of ignorance assures us that people in the original position will be

Accepted Answer

A)   difficult to come to agreement.
B)   impartial.
C)   biased.
D)   forgiving.

Question 6

Rawls rejects utilitarianism because

Accepted Answer

A)   he saw it as a threat.
B)   it might permit an unfair distribution of burdens and benefits.
C)   governments wanted it.
D)   it values moral purity.

Question 7

Who is more likely to be sympathetic with the idea of reducing the disparities of income in society?

Accepted Answer

A)   Utilitarians
B)   Libertarians
C)   Robert Nozick
D)   Milton Friedman

Question 8

In Anarchy, State and Utopia, Robert Nozick advocates

Accepted Answer

A)   Libertarianism.
B)   Kantianism.
C)   Utilitarianism.
D)   Egoism.

Question 9

Rawls's theory of distributive justice is a form of utilitarianism.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

According to Robert Nozick, property rights exist prior to any social arrangements and are morally antecedent to any legislative decisions that a society might make.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Thanks to changes in the tax system, in recent years income in the United States has become more equal.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Libertarians reject inheritance as a legitimate means of acquiring wealth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

In his Principles of Political Economy, J.S. Mill argued for the desirability of breaking down the sharp and hostile division between the producers or workers, on the one hand, and the capitalists or owners, on the other hand.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Many philosophers believe (as Aristotle did) that we are required, as a formal principle of justice, to treat similar cases alike except where there is some relevant difference.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The veil of ignorance proposes that

Accepted Answer

A)   those in the original position are supposed to choose principles on the basis of self-interest, agreement seems unlikely.
B)   one group would be supportive of another group benefiting even though the rules are different.
C)   people are fully knowledgeable about themselves or situation allowing them to have a partial or biased point of view.
D)   agreement is difficult to attain.

Question 16

From John Stuart Mill's viewpoint,

Accepted Answer

A)   philosophical concern with justice began in the 19th century.
B)   questions of morality form a subset of questions of justice.
C)   for utilitarians, justice is a moral standard independent of the principle of utility.
D)   not every issue of social utility was a matter of justice.

Question 17

For utilitarians, justice is an independent moral standard distinct from their general principle.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Libertarians would find it immoral and unjust to coerce people to give food or money to the starving.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Primary social goods include

Accepted Answer

A)   poverty.
B)   freedom of religion.
C)   status.
D)   leisure time activities.

Question 20

Distributive justice concerns the morally proper distribution of social benefits and burdens.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 3: Justice and Economic Distribution

According to John Rawls, people in "the original position" choose the principles of justice on the basis of

John Rawls' Theory of Justice lays within which type of tradition?

Libertarianism involves a commitment to leaving market relations - buying, selling, and other exchanges - totally unrestricted.

The difference principle of Rawls states

The veil of ignorance assures us that people in the original position will be

Rawls rejects utilitarianism because

Who is more likely to be sympathetic with the idea of reducing the disparities of income in society?

In Anarchy, State and Utopia, Robert Nozick advocates

Rawls's theory of distributive justice is a form of utilitarianism.

According to Robert Nozick, property rights exist prior to any social arrangements and are morally antecedent to any legislative decisions that a society might make.

Thanks to changes in the tax system, in recent years income in the United States has become more equal.

Libertarians reject inheritance as a legitimate means of acquiring wealth.

In his Principles of Political Economy, J.S. Mill argued for the desirability of breaking down the sharp and hostile division between the producers or workers, on the one hand, and the capitalists or owners, on the other hand.

Many philosophers believe (as Aristotle did) that we are required, as a formal principle of justice, to treat similar cases alike except where there is some relevant difference.

The veil of ignorance proposes that

From John Stuart Mill's viewpoint,

For utilitarians, justice is an independent moral standard distinct from their general principle.

Libertarians would find it immoral and unjust to coerce people to give food or money to the starving.

Primary social goods include

Distributive justice concerns the morally proper distribution of social benefits and burdens.