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Course  Quiz 4  Questi…  Questi…

Questions
Quiz due Sep 1, 2020 08:00 EDT
Instructions
Quiz 4 consists of 5 multiple choice questions. Be sure to read each question carefully before
you select your response. You have one and only one attempt to answer each of the ve
questions. 

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As stated on the syllabus, while you are encouraged, throughout the semester, to discuss the

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topics of the course with your friends and fellow students, you must do Quiz 4 (as well as all

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other quizzes and the nal exam) on your own, without consulting others; you are also not
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permitted to share responses to the quiz questions with others or post them in the course
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discussions. We strongly recommend that students take Quiz 4 after completing the material
of lectures 14, 15, and 16, to assess their progress. 
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Good Luck!
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Question 1
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1/1 point (graded)

What is the original position?
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a) A time in the past when people lived behind a veil of ignorance that covered up
their knowledge about who in particular they are (e.g. their social status and natural
talents).
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b) A utopian society in which people live behind a veil of ignorance that covers up
their knowledge about who in particular they are (e.g. their social status and natural
talents).

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c) A hypothetical scenario in which people who are temporarily placed behind a veil of
ignorance that covers up their knowledge about who in particular they are (e.g. their
social status and natural talents) choose the principles of justice for their society.

d) A utopian society in which everyone acts in accordance with Rawls’ principles of

justice.

e) A time past when people acted in accordance with Rawls’ principles of justice.

Explanation
a) Incorrect. Rawls does not claim that there ever was a time when people actually lived
behind a veil of ignorance. Rather, the original position is a hypothetical scenario in which
people who are temporarily placed behind a veil of ignorance that covers up their knowledge

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about who in particuar they are (e.g. their social status and natural talents) choose the

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principles of justice for their society.

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b) Incorrect. Rawls does not claim that the original position is an ideal or utopian society

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where people would permanently live behind a veil of ignorance. Rather, the original position
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is a hypothetical scenario in which people who are temporarily placed behind a veil of
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ignorance that covers up their knowledge about who in particular they are (e.g. their social
status and natural talents) choose the principles of justice for their society.
c) Correct.
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d) Incorrect. The original position is a hypothetical scenario in which people who are
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temporarily placed behind a veil of ignorance that covers up their knowledge about who in
particular they are (e.g. their social status and natural talents) choose the principles of justice
for their society.
e) Incorrect. The original position is a hypothetical scenario in which people who are
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temporarily placed behind a veil of ignorance that covers up their knowledge about who in
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particular they are (e.g. their social status and natural talents) choose the principles of justice
for their society.
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Submit You have used 1 of 1 attempt

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 Answers are displayed within the problem

Question 2
1/1 point (graded)

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What is the main function of the veil of ignorance?

a) To ensure that people are not biased by knowledge about particular facts about
themselves (e.g. how strong or intelligent they are) when thinking about matters of
justice.

b) To ensure people’s anonymity when choosing principles of justice.

c) To ensure that people are just as biased when they choose principles of justice as
they are in real life.

d) To ensure that people are keenly aware of di erences in bargaining power when
choosing principles of justice.

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e) To ensure that, when choosing principles of justice, individuals are keenly aware of

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their distinguishing features.

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Explanation
a) Correct.
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b) Incorrect. The veil of ignorance covers up knowledge about features that are speci c to
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individuals, like, say, their intelligence or strength or social status, which may lead to biases.
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The main function of the veil of ignorance is to ensure people's impartiality when thinking
about matters of justice.
c) Incorrect. The veil of ignorance covers up knowledge about features that are speci c to
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individuals, like, say, their intelligence or strength or social status, which may lead to biases.
The main function of the veil of ignorance is to ensure people's impartiality when thinking
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about matters of justice.

d) Incorrect. The veil of ignorance covers up knowledge about features that are speci c to
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individuals, like, say, their intelligence or strength or social status, which may lead to biases.
The main function of the veil of ignorance is to ensure people's impartiality when thinking
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about matters of justice.

e) Incorrect. The veil of ignorance covers up knowledge about features that are speci c to
individuals, like, say, their intelligence or strength or social status, which may lead to biases.
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The main function of the veil of ignorance is to ensure people's impartiality when thinking
about matters of justice.

Submit You have used 1 of 1 attempt

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 Answers are displayed within the problem

Question 3
1/1 point (graded)
Why, according to Rawls, is a hypothetical contract between people of equal standing who
are placed behind a veil of ignorance morally more signi cant than an actual contract?

a) Because it is not tainted by asymmetries in bargaining power (e.g. di erences in

people's wealth or intelligence or strength).

b) Because it is more thoughtful.

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c) Because people often do not know what they want.

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d) Because an actual contract is not tainted by asymmetries in bargaining power (e.g.
di erences in people's wealth or intelligence or strength).

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e) Because tacit consent is more informative than a hypothetical contract.
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Explanation
a) Correct.
b) Incorrect. According to Rawls, a hypothetical contract under ideal conditions is morally
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more signi cant than an actual contract because a hypothetical contract under ideal
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conditions is, by de nition, not tainted by asymmetries in bargaining power since the people
in the original position do not know speci c facts about themselves that could give rise to
asymmetries in bargaining power (e.g. that they are much wealthier than others).
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c) Incorrect. According to Rawls, a hypothetical contract under ideal conditions is morally

more signi cant than an actual contract because a hypothetical contract under ideal
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conditions is, by de nition, not tainted by asymmetries in bargaining power since the people
in the original position do not know speci c facts about themselves that could give rise to
asymmetries in bargaining power (e.g. that they are much wealthier than others).
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d) Incorrect. According to Rawls, a hypothetical contract under ideal conditions is morally

more signi cant than an actual contract because a hypothetical contract under ideal
conditions is, by de nition, not tainted by asymmetries in bargaining power since the people
in the original position do not know speci c facts about themselves that could give rise to
asymmetries in bargaining power (e.g. that they are much wealthier than others).

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e) Incorrect. According to Rawls, a hypothetical contract under ideal conditions is morally

more signi cant than an actual contract because a hypothetical contract under ideal
conditions is, by de nition, not tainted by asymmetries in bargaining power since the people
in the original position do not know speci c facts about themselves that could give rise to
asymmetries in bargaining power (e.g. that they are much wealthier than others).

Submit You have used 1 of 1 attempt

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Question 4
0/1 point (graded)
Individuals who use their talents to earn an income on the free market sometimes claim that

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they ought to be allowed to keep all of that income because they morally deserve it. How

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would Rawls respond to this?

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a) “While you might think that your talents are your own, this is merely an illusion. A
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person’s talents are the property of the entire society, and so the wealth created
through the use of a person’s talents is also collective property that we need to
distribute fairly.”
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b) “The fact that you were born with the talents you have is a morally arbitrary fact.
You do not morally deserve your talents, and so the claim that you deserve the wealth
that your talents attract is dubious.”
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c) “The fact that you were born into a society in which your particular talents are in
high demand or in low supply is a morally arbitrary fact. The fact that your particular
talents are in high demand or in low supply is what allows you to use those talents to
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become wealthy. So the claim that you deserve the wealth that your talents attract is
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dubious.”

d) (a) and (b).

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e) (b) and (c).

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Explanation
a) Incorrect. Rawls does not claim that individual talents are owned by society as a whole.
Rather, he believes that it is morally arbitrary what talents an individual happens to have and
which talents happen to be valued by a society at any given time. Therefore, the claim that
one deserves the wealth that one's talents attract is dubious.
b) Incorrect. The response is incomplete. Rawls believes that it is morally arbitrary what
talents an individual happens to have and which talents happen to be valued by a society at
any given time. Therefore, the claim that one deserves the wealth that one's talents attract is
dubious.
c) Incorrect. The response is incomplete. Rawls believes that it is morally arbitrary what
talents an individual happens to have and which talents happen to be valued by a society at
any given time. Therefore, the claim that one deserves the wealth that one's talents attract is
dubious.
d) Incorrect. Rawls does not argue for (a). Rather, he argues for (b) and (c).
e) Correct.

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Question 5 rs e
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0/1 point (graded)
Rawls thinks that people are justi ed in owning the objects and wealth that they do when:
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a) They acquired those objects by mixing their labor with them, and they acquired
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other wealth by engaging in free exchange with others.

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b) They acquired those objects and wealth through a system that rewards them for
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the moral excellence they exhibit when they work hard and show initiative.

c) The objects and wealth were acquired within a market regulated by principles of
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justice that protect individual liberties and fair equality of opportunity for all and then
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work to the bene t of the least well-o members of society.

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d) a and c.

e) b and c.

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Explanation
a) Incorrect. According to Rawls, people are justi ed in owning the objects and wealth that
they do when the objects and wealth were acquired within a market regulated by principles
of justice that protect individual liberties and fair equality of opportunity for all and then
work to the bene t of the least well-o members of society.
b) Incorrect. According to Rawls, people are justi ed in owning the objects and wealth that
they do when the objects and wealth were acquired within a market regulated by principles
of justice that protect individual liberties and fair equality opportunity for all and then work
to the bene t of the least well-o members of society.
c) Correct.
d) Incorrect. Only (c) is correct.
e) Incorrect. Only (c) is correct.

Submit You have used 1 of 1 attempt

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