Question 1

Classical liberalism argued that the government should not interfere in economic affairs.

Accepted Answer

Classical liberalism emphasized individual rights and freedoms, including property rights and free markets, and believed that government interference in economic affairs could restrict these freedoms and lead to inefficiencies.

Question 2

The emotivists thought that moral judgments are genuine propositions with a clear, factual meaning.

Accepted Answer

Emotivists believed that moral judgments express only emotion or subjective preferences, and do not have objective and universal meanings.

Question 3

Making and defending moral judgments is known as metaethics.

Accepted Answer

Making and defending moral judgments is actually known as normative ethics. Metaethics is concerned with the foundations, language, and nature of ethics, and seeks to understand the meaning and justification behind moral claims.

Question 4

Ayn Rand embraced a community-based ethics, in which the neediest were cared for by the strongest.

Accepted Answer

Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism emphasized individualism and self-interest, rejecting the idea of sacrifice for the common good. She believed that individuals should follow their own rational self-interest and succeed through their own efforts, rather than relying on a community-based ethics.

Question 5

John Rawls argued that rational, self-interested people choosing from behind a veil of ignorance would agree that there should be no inequalities in liberty or wealth and income in the just society.

Accepted Answer

John Rawls argued that rational, self-interested people would agree on two principles of justice: equal basic liberties for all and inequalities in wealth and income are only justified if they benefit the least advantaged members of society (the difference principle), not that there should be no inequalities at all.

Question 6

MacIntyre accepted Aristotle's view that human nature cannot be specified merely by stating the average human's characteristics.

Accepted Answer

MacIntyre believed that human nature is complex and cannot be reduced to a list of typical or average characteristics. Instead, he emphasized the importance of understanding human nature in light of the individual's particular social and historical context.

Question 7

Herbert Marcuse argued that the reason the Marxist revolution didn't happen in modern industrial societies is because capitalism doesn't really lead to the exploitation and alienation of workers that Marx said it did.

Accepted Answer

Herbert Marcuse believed that capitalism did indeed lead to exploitation and alienation of workers, but the reason for the failure of the Marxist revolution in modern industrial societies was due to factors such as the integration of workers into the system through consumerism and the use of technology to control and manipulate the masses.

Question 8

According to the emotivists, what do moral judgments do?

Accepted Answer

Emotivists believe that moral judgments are expressions of emotions or attitudes rather than assertions of facts or instructions for action. Therefore, moral judgments do not guide conduct or create value, but rather they express emotion and encourage others to feel the same way.

Question 9

Identify a true statement about Marcuse's philosophical position.

Accepted Answer

Marcuse believed in the concept of a "one-dimensional society," where people in capitalist societies are pacified by the promises of consumer culture and the integration of the working classes into the system is weakened. This shows that option A is the true statement about Marcuse's philosophical position. The other options are incorrect as they either do not align with his philosophy or are based on the ideas of other philosophers (such as Ayn Rand for option C).

Question 10

Which of the following is the political philosophy based on the desire to preserve past social and political traditions and practices?

Accepted Answer

Conservatism is the political philosophy that aims to preserve or maintain traditional social and political institutions and practices. It emphasizes the importance of continuity and stability in society, and is often associated with support for limited government intervention in economic affairs and a strong emphasis on individual freedom and responsibility. Communism, fascism, and socialism, on the other hand, are all ideologies that seek to radically transform society in different ways.

Question 11

Identify Rawls's position on the just distribution of income and wealth in a society.

Accepted Answer

Rawls's position is that society should have an equal distribution of income and wealth, unless an unequal distribution would benefit everyone. This principle is known as the difference principle and is based on the idea that inequalities are only acceptable if they make the worst off in society better off than they would be in a more equal distribution. Rawls argues that this principle not only promotes social justice but also improves economic efficiency by providing incentives for people to work hard and be productive.

Question 12

Robert Nozick is a libertarian who thinks that only a state limited to the functions of a night-watchman is morally justifiable.

Accepted Answer

This is the core of Nozick's political philosophy as outlined in his book "Anarchy, State, and Utopia". According to Nozick, the role of the state should be minimal, limited to protecting citizens from force, theft, and fraud.

Question 13

Which of the following is true of John Rawls's original position?

Accepted Answer

The original position is a hypothetical scenario proposed by John Rawls where individuals choose principles of justice without knowing their place in society, ensuring that they do not tailor principles to benefit themselves specifically. This is meant to ensure fairness and impartiality in the principles chosen.

Question 14

According to Rawls, the most important good is respecting others.

Accepted Answer

According to Rawls, the most important primary goods are rights, liberties, and opportunities, not specifically respecting others, although respect is an underlying principle in his theory of justice.

Question 15

The attempt to understand the sources and criteria of moral value judgments is known as:

Accepted Answer

Metaethics is the branch of ethics that deals with the nature of morality, including the origin and justification of moral principles and judgments. It seeks to understand the meaning and significance of moral language and concepts, such as right and wrong, good and bad, and ought and should. This makes it the best choice for describing the attempt to understand the sources and criteria of moral value judgments. Normative ethics, deontological ethics, and prima facie duty all deal with different aspects of moral reasoning and decision-making, but they do not specifically focus on the sources and criteria of moral value judgments.

Question 16

Why does Robert Nozick believe that any state that goes beyond the minimal state is unjust?

Accepted Answer

Nozick believes that any state that goes beyond the minimal state is unjust because it violates persons' rights not to be forced to do certain things. According to Nozick, the only legitimate function of the state is to protect individuals from force, fraud, and theft. Any further intervention in people's lives is a violation of their rights to liberty and property.

Question 17

_____ is an economic system in which ownership of the means of production and distribution is maintained primarily by private individuals and corporations.

Accepted Answer

Capitalism is the economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit in a competitive market. It is based on the principles of individual freedom, private property rights, and free market economy. In this system, prices are determined by supply and demand, and businesses and individuals are motivated by profit incentives.

Question 18

Metaethics is the attempt to understand the sources, criteria, meaning, verification, or validation of moral value judgments.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of metaethics.

Question 19

According to Michael Walzer, what is a thick moral argument?

Accepted Answer

According to Michael Walzer, a thick moral argument is a moral argument that takes into account the actual, particular details of the political association or culture involved. Walzer argues that thick moral arguments are necessary to properly understand and address the complexities of real-world political situations. Therefore, option A is the correct choice.

Quiz 12: Recent Moral and Political Philosophy