Deck 30: The Morality of Reparation Bernard Boxill

Question 1

In the cases of Tom, Dick, and Harry, Tom

A) steals a bicycle from Harry.
B) steals a bicycle from Dick.
C) has his bicycle stolen by Harry.
D) has his bicycle stolen by Dick.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

In the cases of Tom, Dick, and Harry, Dick

A) steals a bicycle from Harry.
B) steals a bicycle from Tom.
C) has his bicycle stolen by Harry.
D) has his bicycle stolen by Tom.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

In the cases of Tom, Dick, and Harry, Harry

A) is morally blameless.
B) steals a bicycle from Tom.
C) is owed reparation.
D) None of the above

Answer 3

A

Question 4

According to Boxill's main argument, slave masters violated enslaved people's moral right to

A) the use of their own bodies.
B) dignity and respect.
C) the products of their own labor.
D) All of the above

Question 5

Boxill argues that _______ owe reparation to the present generation of Black Americans.

A) each individual white American
B) direct descendants of slave owners only
C) the white community as a whole
D) both a and c

Question 6

Boxill argues that present-day white Americans owe the Black community reparation because

A) they are morally culpable for the injustices of slavery.
B) they could have refused to accept the benefits belonging to the descendants of enslaved people.
C) they are to blame for the injustices of slavery.
D) None of the above

Question 7

Boxill's main argument _______ the claim that white people are culpable or blamable.

A) implies
B) rejects
C) does not imply
D) depends on

Question 8

Boxill argues that the white community resembles a company or corporation because it

A) has distinct interests opposed to other groups.
B) confers exclusive benefits to its members.
C) takes joint action to protect its interests.
D) All of the above

Question 9

In the extreme case of Harry who receives a heart transplant from the recently deceased Dick, Boxill argues that Harry

A) is morally culpable for Dick's death.
B) must make reparation to Dick's family.
C) should have refused the transplant.
D) All of the above

Question 10

According to Boxill, if the validity of inheritance is rejected, then

A) all arguments in favor of reparation will fail.
B) an argument for reparation can still be made if we stipulate that individuals' wealth is returned to society at their deaths.
C) the very idea of property rights must be rejected as well.
D) None of the above

Question 11

According to Boxill, only present-day white Americans who are direct descendants of slave owners owe reparation to present-day Black Americans.

Question 12

Boxill argues that present-day white Americans are liable to make reparation because they did not refuse to accept the benefits belonging to descendants of slaves when they were in a position to do so.

Question 13

Boxill does not claim that present-day white Americans are to blame or morally culpable for the past injustices of slavery.

Question 14

According to Boxill, both the white community as a whole and individual white people owe reparation to the Black community.

Question 15

According to Boxill, the case for reparation depends on the validity of inheritance.

Question 16

Boxill uses the cases of Tom, Dick, and Harry to argue for the claim that Black Americans are entitled to reparation from white Americans. How does this argument go exactly? Do you find it convincing? Why or why not?

Question 17

Boxill claims that the white community can be regarded as a company or corporation. How does Boxill defend this claim? Is his defense convincing? Why or why not?

Question 18

Boxill claims that even if the validity of inheritance is rejected, a strong argument in favor of reparation can still be made. What is this argument? Is it persuasive? Why or why not?