A Theory of Justice Chapter 20 Test Bank Docx - Exploring Ethics 6e | Test Bank Cahn by Steven M. Cahn. DOCX document preview.
to accompany
Exploring Ethics, Sixth Edition
Cahn
Chapter 20
A Theory of Justice
John Rawls
[NOTE: Questions marked with “*” also appear in the student self quizzes on Learning Link.]
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is not one of the characteristics of people in the “original position?”*
a. They do not know their social status.
b. They do not know what “justice” means.
c. They do not know what their conception of the good is.
d. They do not know how talented they are.
2. Rawls conceives of the “original position of equality” as
a. a moral ideal to be realized in society as far as possible.
b. a natural stage in human psychological development.
c. an historical probability.
d. a purely hypothetical situation.
3. The principles chosen by those in Rawls’s original position would require*
a. social ownership of the means of production.
b. equality of authority.
c. equality of basic rights.
d. All of the above
4. In Rawls’s view, can economic inequality be compatible with justice?
a. Yes, provided that it has come about by fair dealings
b. Yes, provided that it results in compensating benefits for the least advantaged
c. Yes, provided that the poverty of some is offset by a net increase in social well-being
d. No
5. The usefulness of the original position is that*
a. it corresponds to the most natural state of human relations.
b. all of us have at least a dim memory of what it was like to be in it.
c. it ensures that social benefits will be allocated strictly based on merit.
d. it makes it impossible to tailor principles to one’s own advantage.
6. What does Rawls take as the basis of equality among those in the original position?
a. They all have a conception of their good and a sense of justice.
b. They are all equally endowed with natural ability.
c. Each thinks him- or herself to be at least as wise as the rest.
d. They are all children of the same God.
7. Which of the following is not one of the basic liberties identified by Rawls?*
a. Freedom of assembly
b. The right to hold personal property
c. Freedom from arbitrary arrest
d. The right to bear arms
8. Rawls refers to his theory as
a. justice as equality.
b. justice as fairness.
c. justice as liberty.
d. None of the above
9. According to Rawls, we can enter the original position*
a. only by leaving society and remaking social institutions from scratch.
b. at any time, by simply following a certain procedure.
c. only if we somehow forget who we are, which is very rare.
d. None of the above
True or False
10. Rawls’s “original position of equality” corresponds to the state of nature in traditional political theory.*
a. True
b. False
11. Rawls’s theory of justice rests on those principles that a purely disinterested observer would select.
a. True
b. False
12. The principles chosen by people in Rawls’s original position would eliminate all inequality.*
a. True
b. False
13. Rawls believes that natural ability should not give one a leg up in a quest for political and economic advantage.
a. True
b. False
14. Rawls uses the term “veil of ignorance” to refer to everything that prevents us in ordinary life from seeing what justice requires of us.*
a. True
b. False
15. Positions of authority in a just society must be open to all.
a. True
b. False
16. Rawls’s theory is a form of utilitarianism.*
a. True
b. False
17. Rawls believes that basic liberties can be infringed on so long as the result is greater social and economic advantages for all, particularly the least fortunate.
a. True
b. False
18. Rawls argues that fairness requires that no people receive different treatment.*
a. True
b. False
Essay
19. Rawls states, “Injustice, then, is simply inequalities that are not to the benefit of all.” Do you agree with this claim? Why or why not? How does this conception of injustice manifest itself in Rawls’s theory?
20. Can you think of an example of a current social policy that people in the original position would not agree to adopt? How about one they would? In explaining your answer, be sure to make reference to Rawls’s two principles of justice.
21. Try to put on the veil of ignorance and imagine yourself in the original position. Are the principles Rawls identifies the same as those you would choose? Why or why not?