Unit 4: Social Justice
1. Which philosopher argued that kings should maintain justice by punishing wrongdoers and rewarding the virtuous?
A) Plato
B) Confucius
C) Socrates
D) Immanuel Kant
Answer: B) Confucius
2. According to Plato, why should people be just?
A) To gain rewards from the king
B) To avoid suffering injustice from others
C) Because injustice is inherently evil
D) To maintain societal harmony
Answer: D) To maintain societal harmony
3. Which principle of justice requires that people should not be discriminated against based on class, caste, race, or gender?
A) Proportionate justice
B) Equal treatment for equals
C) Recognition of special needs
D) Economic justice
Answer: B) Equal treatment for equals
4. According to John Rawls, what concept helps people think impartially when deciding how society should be organized?
A) Distributive justice
B) Theory of merit
C) Veil of ignorance
D) Principle of equality
Answer: C) Veil of ignorance
5. Which of the following is NOT considered a basic minimum requirement for a healthy and productive life?
A) Education
B) Entertainment
C) Clean drinking water
D) Minimum wage
Answer: B) Entertainment
6. Which type of justice takes into account factors like effort, skill, and danger in determining rewards?
A) Equal treatment for equals
B) Proportionate justice
C) Recognition of special needs
D) Social justice
Answer: B) Proportionate justice
7. Supporters of free markets believe that justice is best achieved by:
A) Regulating all economic activities
B) Allowing individuals to freely own property and compete
C) Ensuring equal wages for all types of work
D) Distributing wealth equally among all citizens
Answer: B) Allowing individuals to freely own property and compete
8. Rawls’ theory of justice advocates for fair distribution that considers:
A) The interests of the privileged only
B) Special treatment based on personal preference
C) Benefits to the worst-off in society
D) Rewards solely based on merit
Answer: C) Benefits to the worst-off in society
9. In the context of social justice, what does the principle of ‘recognition of special needs’ imply?
A) Equal treatment for all
B) Assistance to those with specific disadvantages
C) Distribution based only on skill level
D) A reward system solely based on performance
Answer: B) Assistance to those with specific disadvantages
10. The main goal of a just society, as outlined in the content, is to:
A) Make everyone live at the same standard of living
B) Ensure basic conditions for a healthy, secure life and equal opportunities
C) Allow the wealthy to maintain their status without interference
D) Minimize state intervention in the market
Answer: B) Ensure basic conditions for a healthy, secure life and equal opportunities
11. According to the chapter, justice requires giving each person “his due.” In modern understanding, what is “due” to each person?
A) Wealth and power
B) A dignified life and the opportunity to pursue goals
C) An equal share of all resources
D) Freedom to do as they please
Answer: B) A dignified life and the opportunity to pursue goals
12. Which philosopher stated that human beings possess dignity, and thus deserve equal consideration in justice?
A) Plato
B) Immanuel Kant
C) John Rawls
D) Socrates
Answer: B) Immanuel Kant
13. Which of the following would best represent the principle of ‘proportionate justice’?
A) Equal wages for all workers, regardless of their work
B) Different rewards based on skills and effort required
C) Treating everyone exactly the same
D) Ensuring that only privileged groups receive the most resources
Answer: B) Different rewards based on skills and effort required
14. The “veil of ignorance,” as explained by John Rawls, is meant to help people make fair decisions by:
A) Ignoring all personal interests and biases
B) Forgetting their personal identities and societal positions
C) Considering only the needs of the wealthy
D) Encouraging decisions that benefit their social status
Answer: B) Forgetting their personal identities and societal positions
15. Which of the following principles of justice might justify providing additional resources to marginalized communities?
A) Equal treatment for all
B) Recognition of special needs
C) Free-market distribution
D) Rewarding only the skilled
Answer: B) Recognition of special needs
16. What is a major argument of those who support free markets over state intervention?
A) Free markets provide equal access to resources for all people
B) Free markets prioritize fair treatment for disadvantaged groups
C) Free markets ensure that talented individuals are rewarded
D) Free markets create equal outcomes for all individuals
Answer: C) Free markets ensure that talented individuals are rewarded
17. Which scenario illustrates a conflict between the principles of ‘equal treatment’ and ‘recognition of special needs’?
A) Two employees from different castes are paid differently for the same job
B) Disabled students receive additional time for exams while others do not
C) A school decides to award all students the same marks
D) A company hires people only from privileged backgrounds
Answer: B) Disabled students receive additional time for exams while others do not
18. In the pursuit of social justice, what does the chapter suggest about state intervention in basic services?
A) It is generally discouraged, as it limits market freedom
B) It is necessary to ensure equal access to essential services
C) It should be replaced by private agencies providing services
D) It should focus only on helping the wealthy
Answer: B) It is necessary to ensure equal access to essential services
19. Which of the following best describes John Rawls' perspective on the organization of a fair society?
A) Society should focus on individual achievements and ignore the disadvantaged
B) Society should be arranged to protect the interests of the wealthy
C) Society should be organized so that even the worst-off have reasonable opportunities
D) Society should equally reward everyone regardless of effort
Answer: C) Society should be organized so that even the worst-off have reasonable opportunities
20. Which principle would likely support reservations in education and employment for disadvantaged groups?
A) Free-market justice
B) Equal treatment for all
C) Recognition of special needs
D) Proportionate rewards based on talent alone
Answer: C) Recognition of special needs
21. According to the chapter, why might a society need to redistribute resources?
A) To eliminate all forms of individual achievement
B) To ensure a level playing field and basic equality for all citizens
C) To reward only the wealthiest citizens
D) To prevent the poor from competing in the market
Answer: B) To ensure a level playing field and basic equality for all citizens
22. Which of the following best describes a ‘just distribution’ according to John Rawls?
A) Equal distribution of resources regardless of individual needs
B) Policies that benefit society as a whole, including the disadvantaged
C) Allocating resources based solely on social status
D) Privileging the needs of the wealthy over others
Answer: B) Policies that benefit society as a whole, including the disadvantaged
23. The principle of 'equal treatment for equals' would find which of the following situations unjust?
A) Rewarding workers based on their level of effort
B) Providing additional support to students with disabilities
C) Paying women less than men for the same job
D) Offering free healthcare to the elderly
Answer: C) Paying women less than men for the same job
24. Which philosopher’s ideas influenced the concept that all individuals possess dignity and deserve fair treatment?
A) Confucius
B) John Rawls
C) Immanuel Kant
D) Socrates
Answer: C) Immanuel Kant
25. What does the concept of distributive justice primarily address?
A) Fairness in the allocation of goods, services, and opportunities
B) Strict equality in pay and benefits for all individuals
C) Preferential treatment for economically strong individuals
D) Rewarding all individuals equally, regardless of effort
Answer: A) Fairness in the allocation of goods, services, and opportunities
26. In the context of Rawls' theory, the ‘veil of ignorance’ encourages people to:
A) Make decisions based on their current social status
B) Consider society from the perspective of the most privileged
C) Think impartially, as if they don’t know their own social position
D) Ignore the needs of the disadvantaged
Answer: C) Think impartially, as if they don’t know their own social position
27. In a free-market system, supporters argue that:
A) The market naturally supports the needs of the weakest individuals
B) Minimal state intervention is needed for fair competition
C) State intervention is essential to balance social inequalities
D) Only the wealthy benefit from competition
Answer: B) Minimal state intervention is needed for fair competition
28. What is the primary goal of social justice as outlined in the content?
A) To maintain extreme wealth disparities
B) To promote equal opportunities and access to basic necessities
C) To ensure equal outcomes for all individuals
D) To protect the interests of a single group in society
Answer: B) To promote equal opportunities and access to basic necessities
29. According to the chapter, how does a democratic society handle disagreements on issues of justice?
A) By strictly enforcing the views of the majority
B) By negotiating disagreements through open debate
C) By ignoring minority viewpoints
D) By requiring everyone to follow the government’s view without question
Answer: B) By negotiating disagreements through open debate
30. Why might state intervention be necessary in a free market, according to the content?
A) To limit individual freedom and competition
B) To ensure basic facilities and opportunities for disadvantaged individuals
C) To only support profitable businesses
D) To prevent private businesses from offering quality services
Answer: B) To ensure basic facilities and opportunities for disadvantaged individuals
31. According to the chapter, which principle of justice involves providing extra support to individuals with disabilities or special needs?
A) Equal treatment for equals
B) Proportionate justice
C) Recognition of special needs
D) Market justice
Answer: C) Recognition of special needs
32. Why does the chapter argue that absolute equality is not necessary for a just society?
A) People prefer some inequality to encourage competition
B) It is only required to ensure that all individuals have basic conditions for a healthy life
C) Inequality naturally promotes social cohesion
D) People only value wealth distribution when it benefits them personally
Answer: B) It is only required to ensure that all individuals have basic conditions for a healthy life
33. The idea that justice involves giving each person "his due" was originally associated with which concept in ancient Indian society?
A) Karma
B) Dharma
C) Moksha
D) Nirvana
Answer: B) Dharma
34. What is the main concern of free-market advocates in regard to government intervention?
A) It helps reduce inequality effectively
B) It supports only wealthy individuals
C) It restricts individual freedom and competition
D) It encourages too much diversity in market offerings
Answer: C) It restricts individual freedom and competition
35. Why does the chapter suggest that some people oppose schemes that help disadvantaged groups?
A) They believe these schemes lead to inefficiency
B) They think these schemes ignore individual effort and merit
C) They worry such schemes harm the wealthy
D) They feel it’s not the government’s job to intervene
Answer: B) They think these schemes ignore individual effort and merit
36. Which of the following best describes the concept of 'proportionate justice'?
A) Giving everyone the same amount of resources
B) Rewarding people differently based on effort, skill, and risk
C) Ignoring all individual differences in reward distribution
D) Focusing only on those with special needs
Answer: B) Rewarding people differently based on effort, skill, and risk
37. The principle of equal treatment for equals would oppose which of the following practices?
A) Assigning equal wages for the same type of work
B) Providing additional exam time to students with disabilities
C) Offering special resources to marginalized communities
D) Rewarding certain castes differently for the same work
Answer: D) Rewarding certain castes differently for the same work
38. Which of the following is a primary responsibility of governments in promoting social justice, according to the chapter?
A) Ensuring that markets operate without any regulation
B) Providing all citizens with basic conditions for a secure and productive life
C) Prioritizing the wealthy in policy-making
D) Distributing wealth equally among all citizens
Answer: B) Providing all citizens with basic conditions for a secure and productive life
39. In Rawls' 'veil of ignorance' thought experiment, individuals should make decisions as if:
A) They know their future societal position
B) They are born into a disadvantaged position
C) They are unaware of their own social position
D) They will be rewarded based on effort alone
Answer: C) They are unaware of their own social position
40. According to proponents of free markets, one benefit of market distribution is that:
A) It prioritizes social equality over profit
B) It rewards individuals based on talent and merit
C) It ensures that everyone receives equal rewards
D) It eliminates all forms of discrimination
Answer: B) It rewards individuals based on talent and merit
41. How does the chapter describe the primary function of justice in society?
A) To ensure equal wealth distribution
B) To maintain social harmony and fair distribution of resources
C) To reduce all personal freedoms
D) To uphold strict laws without exceptions
Answer: B) To maintain social harmony and fair distribution of resources
42. Why might the principle of ‘recognition of special needs’ sometimes conflict with ‘equal treatment for equals’?
A) Special needs may require different resources, while equal treatment applies the same standards
B) Equal treatment does not allow for any form of aid
C) Special needs ignore individual effort, while equal treatment values it
D) Equal treatment is only applicable in free markets
Answer: A) Special needs may require different resources, while equal treatment applies the same standards
43. The chapter mentions that democratic societies handle justice-related disagreements by:
A) Ignoring opposing views
B) Suppressing discussions on justice
C) Encouraging open debate and negotiation
D) Allowing only experts to decide
Answer: C) Encouraging open debate and negotiation
44. According to Rawls’ theory, why should people support fair policies even for the least privileged in society?
A) They might themselves be in a disadvantaged position if roles were reversed
B) It ensures greater profit for the wealthy
C) It guarantees social status for all
D) It primarily benefits only the privileged
Answer: A) They might themselves be in a disadvantaged position if roles were reversed
