Question 1

Which of the following is not one of the characteristics of people in the &#34;original position?&#34;&#10;A) They do not know their social status.&#10;B) They do not know what &#34;justice&#34; means.&#10;C) They do not know what their conception of the good is.&#10;D) They do not know how talented they are.

Accepted Answer

In the "original position," as conceptualized by philosopher John Rawls, individuals are behind a "veil of ignorance" that prevents them from knowing specifics about their personal identities, talents, and positions within society. However, they are assumed to have a general knowledge of social, economic, and political theories, including concepts of justice, to make fair choices about the principles of justice that would govern the society they are to enter. Thus, knowing what "justice" means is not excluded in the original position.

Question 2

Rawls conceives of the &#34;original position of equality&#34; as&#10;A) a moral ideal to be realized in society as far as possible.&#10;B) a natural stage in human psychological development.&#10;C) an historical probability.&#10;D) a purely hypothetical situation.

Accepted Answer

The "original position of equality" as conceived by John Rawls is a purely hypothetical situation designed to facilitate impartial decision-making for the principles of justice, without the influence of one's place in society.

Question 3

The principles chosen by those in Rawls's original position would require&#10;A) social ownership of the means of production.&#10;B) equality of authority.&#10;C) equality of basic rights.&#10;D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

In John Rawls's theory, the principles chosen by those in the original position prioritize the equality of basic rights as a fundamental aspect of justice. This is because individuals in the original position are behind a "veil of ignorance," not knowing their place in society, and would therefore choose principles that ensure fairness and basic rights for all.

Question 4

In Rawls's view, can economic inequality be compatible with justice?&#10;A) Yes, provided that it has come about by fair dealings&#10;B) Yes, provided that it results in compensating benefits for the least advantaged&#10;C) Yes, provided that the poverty of some is offset by a net increase in social well-being&#10;D) No

Accepted Answer

Rawls's theory of justice, as fairness, allows for economic inequalities under the condition that they benefit the least advantaged members of society. This is encapsulated in his second principle of justice, often referred to as the difference principle.

Question 5

The usefulness of the original position is that&#10;A) it corresponds to the most natural state of human relations.&#10;B) all of us have at least a dim memory of what it was like to be in it.&#10;C) it ensures that social benefits will be allocated strictly based on merit.&#10;D) it makes it impossible to tailor principles to one's own advantage.

Accepted Answer

The original position, a concept introduced by philosopher John Rawls, is a hypothetical situation in which individuals choose the principles of justice that will govern their society, without knowing their own place in that society. This ignorance of one's own personal details (such as race, class, gender, etc.) ensures that the principles chosen are fair and impartial, as one cannot tailor principles to benefit themselves specifically.

Question 6

What does Rawls take as the basis of equality among those in the original position?&#10;A) They all have a conception of their good and a sense of justice.&#10;B) They are all equally endowed with natural ability.&#10;C) Each thinks him- or herself to be at least as wise as the rest.&#10;D) They are all children of the same God.

Accepted Answer

Rawls argues that in the original position, individuals are equal because they all have a conception of their good and a sense of justice, which allows them to make fair decisions behind the veil of ignorance.

Question 7

Which of the following is not one of the basic liberties identified by Rawls?&#10;A) Freedom of assembly&#10;B) The right to hold personal property&#10;C) Freedom from arbitrary arrest&#10;D) The right to bear arms

Accepted Answer

John Rawls, in his theory of justice, does not list the right to bear arms as one of the basic liberties. The basic liberties he identifies include political liberty (the right to vote and hold office), freedom of speech and assembly, liberty of conscience and freedom of thought, freedom from arbitrary arrest and seizure as per the rule of law, and the rights to personal property and to hold personal property. The right to bear arms is not mentioned as a fundamental liberty in Rawls' framework.

Question 8

Rawls refers to his theory as&#10;A) justice as equality.&#10;B) justice as fairness.&#10;C) justice as liberty.&#10;D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Rawls' theory of justice is known as "justice as fairness."

Question 9

According to Rawls, we can enter the original position&#10;A) only by leaving society and remaking social institutions from scratch.&#10;B) at any time, by simply following a certain procedure.&#10;C) only if we somehow forget who we are, which is very rare.&#10;D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Rawls' concept of the original position is a hypothetical scenario where individuals choose principles of justice under a veil of ignorance, not requiring physical departure from society or forgetting one's identity. It's a thought experiment or procedure for determining justice.

Question 10

Rawls's &#34;original position of equality&#34; corresponds to the state of nature in traditional political theory.

Accepted Answer

Rawls's "original position of equality" is a hypothetical scenario designed to establish principles of justice, similar to the "state of nature" concept in traditional political theory, which serves as a thought experiment to explore the foundations of society and government.

Question 11

Rawls's theory of justice rests on those principles that a purely disinterested observer would select.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rawls's theory of justice rests on those...

Question 12

The principles chosen by people in Rawls's original position would eliminate all inequality.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The principles chosen by people in Rawls's...

Question 13

Rawls believes that natural ability should not give one a leg up in a quest for political and economic advantage.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rawls believes that natural ability should not...

Question 14

Rawls uses the term &#34;veil of ignorance&#34; to refer to everything that prevents us in ordinary life from seeing what justice requires of us.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rawls uses the term &#34;veil of ignorance&#34;...

Question 15

Positions of authority in a just society must be open to all.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Positions of authority in a just society...

Question 16

Rawls's theory is a form of utilitarianism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rawls's theory is a form of utilitarianism....

Question 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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rawls believes that basic liberties can be...

Question 18

Rawls argues that fairness requires that no people receive different treatment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rawls argues that fairness requires that no...

Question 19

Rawls states, &#34;Injustice, then, is simply inequalities that are not to the benefit of all.&#34; Do you agree with this claim? Why or why not? How does this conception of injustice manifest itself in Rawls's theory?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rawls states, &#34;Injustice, then, is simply inequalities...

Question 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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Can you think of an example of...

Question 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?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Try to put on the veil of...

Deck 20: A Theory of Justice John Rawls