Question 1

The American Declaration of Independence represented a rejection of John Locke's political theory.

Accepted Answer

The American Declaration of Independence was heavily influenced by John Locke's political theory, particularly his ideas about natural rights and the social contract. The declaration's assertion that "all men are created equal" is a direct reflection of Locke's belief that all individuals are entitled to certain natural rights, such as life, liberty, and property. The declaration also emphasizes the people's right to abolish an unjust government and establish a new one, which is consistent with Locke's view that the social contract is a revocable agreement between the people and their rulers.

Question 2

Thomas Aquinas advocated the natural law theory.

Accepted Answer

Thomas Aquinas was a medieval philosopher and theologian who argued for the natural law theory, which posits that there is a universal moral law inherent in nature that can be discovered through reason.

Question 3

Robert Paul Wolff argues that governmental authority and individual autonomy are compatible.

Accepted Answer

Robert Paul Wolff argues in his book "In Defense of Anarchism" that governmental authority and individual autonomy are fundamentally incompatible because the essence of the state's authority contradicts the principle of individual autonomy.

Question 4

As defined by your text,a right is a justified claim to something.

Accepted Answer

The text clearly states that a right is a justified claim to something, making statement A true.

Question 5

The social contract theory is opposed to the forming of governments.

Accepted Answer

The social contract theory actually supports the formation of governments by suggesting that individuals consent, either implicitly or explicitly, to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the ruler or the decision of a majority, in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

Question 6

John Rawls believed that those in society who had the most natural gifts should have the most advantages.

Accepted Answer

John Rawls believed in the principle of "equal basic liberties" and argued that inequalities in society should only be permitted if they benefit the least advantaged. He did not believe that natural talents or abilities should be rewarded with more advantages in society.

Question 7

Mohandas Gandhi argued that violence was necessary to overcome an unjust government.

Accepted Answer

Mohandas Gandhi was an advocate of non-violent resistance and believed that violence would only lead to more violence and destruction. He famously said, "An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind."

Question 8

Marx held to a deterministic view of history.

Accepted Answer

Marx believed that the economic and social forces and conflicts were the driving forces of history, and that these forces would inevitably lead to the formation of a socialist society. In other words, he believed that history followed a predetermined path towards communism.

Question 9

Thomas Hobbes was an advocate of the social contract theory.

Accepted Answer

Thomas Hobbes argued that individuals in a state of nature would be in a constant state of war with each other and that a social contract is necessary to avoid chaos and ensure stability. He believed that individuals would voluntarily give up some of their freedom and power to a sovereign government or ruler in exchange for protection and security, which is the basis of the social contract theory.

Question 10

Martin Luther King,Jr.points out that examples of civil disobedience can be found in the Bible and throughout history.

Accepted Answer

Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that civil disobedience was a moral obligation and cited examples from the Bible and history to support his belief.

Question 11

Classical liberalism was a theory that emphasized individual freedom.

Accepted Answer

Classical liberalism is a political ideology and theory that emphasizes the value of individual freedom and limited government intervention in people's lives. It was prominent during the Enlightenment era and continues to influence modern liberal and libertarian beliefs.

Question 12

"The veil of ignorance" is John Rawls's term for the situation of those who lack philosophical reason.

Accepted Answer

"The veil of ignorance" is actually Rawls's term for a thought experiment in political philosophy where decision makers imagine themselves as not knowing their own social status, position, or even natural abilities in order to create a just and fair society for all. It does not refer to a lack of philosophical reason.

Question 13

The belief that the government has no legitimate authority,even though it may be necessary to tolerate government for practical reasons,is called

Accepted Answer

The belief that the government has no legitimate authority, but may be tolerated for practical reasons is known as theoretical anarchism. Naive anarchism is characterized by the belief that society could function without any form of government, while militant anarchism involves using violent means to abolish government. There is no such thing as Platonic anarchism as it is not a recognized term in political philosophy.

Question 14

Plato believed that a democracy was the most just form of government.

Accepted Answer

Plato actually believed that democracy was a flawed form of government because it allowed the uneducated and unwise majority to hold too much power, leading to chaos and instability. He favored the rule of philosopher-kings who were trained in wisdom and virtue.

Question 15

According to your text,"civil disobedience" refers to any violation of the law.

Accepted Answer

"Civil disobedience" refers specifically to the intentional violation of a law or rule that is seen as unjust or oppressive, often with the goal of promoting social or political change. It is not just any violation of the law.

Question 16

John Stuart Mill argued that the government should never restrict your individual freedom except to prevent harm to others.

Accepted Answer

This is the principle of Mill's harm principle, which he set out in his book "On Liberty." Mill believed that individuals should be free to act as they please, as long as they are not causing harm to others. He argued that the only valid reason for government intervention in individual freedoms is to prevent harm to others.

Question 17

The issue of the justification of the government's authority has to do with whether the government has the power to enforce its rules.

Accepted Answer

The issue of the justification of the government's authority is more about whether the government has the moral or legitimate right to exercise power and enforce its rules, rather than simply having the power to do so.

Question 18

John Stuart Mill claimed that concerns for justice are more fundamental than concerns for social utility.

Accepted Answer

John Stuart Mill was a proponent of utilitarianism, which posits that actions are right if they promote happiness and wrong if they produce the opposite of happiness. For Mill, concerns for social utility are fundamental, and justice is a part of the broader concept of promoting overall happiness or utility.

Question 19

Anarchism is the position that there is no conceivable justification for government.

Accepted Answer

Anarchism is indeed the position that there is no conceivable justification for government, and therefore seeks to abolish it in favor of a society based on voluntary cooperation and mutual aid.

Question 20

In Karl Marx's terminology,"bourgeoisie" refers to the workers.

Accepted Answer

In Karl Marx's terminology, "bourgeoisie" refers to the capitalist class who own the means of production, while "proletariat" refers to the working class who sell their labor to survive.

Quiz 6: The Search for the Just Society