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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Rawls think a person would decide about their society if they had any choice?

2. What is the implicit assumption that the Social Contract theory makes?

3. What is the first virtue of social institution, according to Rawls?

4. Whom of the following was a leading 'Intuitionist'?

5. Why is the argument called the Original Position?

Short Essay Questions

1. What theory does Rawls want to re-invigorate in his argument?

2. Why does Rawls prefer the Social Contract Theory?

3. What is the maxim of Utilitarian theory?

4. What is Rawls’ criticism of Utilitarianism?

5. How is the Original Position often criticized?

6. What is the popular definition of a Utilitarian object?

7. In what way is the Original Position a proponent of Intuition or Innate Ideas?

8. What is the implicit argument in Social Contract Theory?

9. What does Rawls accept would happen in the Original Position?

10. Does Social Contract Theory have an opt-out policy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Rawls’ social contract deals with criminals, misfits and rebels in its system? What would it be forced to do?

Essay Topic 2

Does Rawls’ theory of the Social Contract place faith in the Individual or in the Society?

Essay Topic 3

Consider the political movements of the 20th and 21st Century (Gay Pride, Women's Liberation, Occupy, the Civil Rights Movement, etc.). How do these movements relate to Rawls’ theory of the Social Contract and the Original Position?

(see the answer keys)

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