Justice & The Good Society

Question 1

Define ‘utopia’.

Answer 1

The perfect society where there is no negative factors.

Question 2

Plato described that a perfect society needs to be…

Answer 2

Totalitarian and ruled by ‘philosopher kings’.

Question 3

More’s idea of complete utopia is…

Answer 3

An absolute communist society.

Question 4

Bacon’s idea of a complete utopia is…

Answer 4

An institutionalised meritocracy.

Question 5

Define ‘dystopia’.

Answer 5

Imaginary society of great suffering and injustice.

Question 6

The two infamous and influential dystopian societies are…

Answer 6

Orwellian and Huxleyan.

Question 7

In a Orwellian dystopia, citizens are…

Answer 7

Controlled by an absolute totalitarian regime.

Question 8

In a Huxleyan society, citizens are…

Answer 8

‘Drowned in entertainment’, being able to do what they want.

Question 9

The main social factors that need the right balancing in a society are:

Answer 9

• Person as social function VS Person as an individual.
• Social status VS Equality.
• Obligations VS Rights.

Question 10

Define ‘legitimate power’.

Answer 10

It is a justified power or authority.

Question 11

Define ‘tyranny’.

Answer 11

Abuse of power.

Question 12

What are the 4 competing philosophical positions?

Answer 12

• libertarianism.
• conservatism.
• communitarianism.
• authoritarianism.

Question 13

Define libertarianism.

Answer 13

The view that people have the right to be free from any government interference unless it is necessary.

Question 14

What are the two main views of libertarianism?

Answer 14

Anarchism and liberalism.

Question 15

Anarchism is the…

Answer 15

Abolition of any ruling power.

Question 16

Liberalism emphasises…

Answer 16

The positive rights of an individual over the negative ones.

Question 17

Define conservatism.

Answer 17

They value family values, culture and traditional principles & institutions.

Question 18

Define communitarianism.

Answer 18

They reject individualism and focus on the stability of societies as a whole.

Question 19

Define authoritarianism.

Answer 19

The view that places law and order over personal value.

Question 20

Define ‘free market’.

Answer 20

Prices of goods and services are auto-regulated by the forces of supply & demand.

Question 21

Define ‘command economy’.

Answer 21

Economic decisions that are made by the government and are then followed as rules.

Question 22

Define ‘left-wing policies’,

Answer 22

Seeking to change the rules and traditions of a country.

Question 23

Define ‘right-wing policies’.

Answer 23

Keeping a country’s status quo.

Question 24

Define ‘rights’.

Answer 24

Claims or entitlement to something.

Question 25

Define ‘duties’.

Answer 25

Moral obligations.

Question 26

Define ‘positive rights’.

Answer 26

Rights to be helped/supported in some way.

Question 27

Define ‘negative rights’.

Answer 27

Acting without interference to anyone.

Question 28

Define ‘distributive justice’.

Answer 28

Concerned with the distribution and allocation of benefits, goods, and resources across a society.

Question 29

‘Justice as Equity’ is the philosophical view that…

Answer 29

Every individual in a society should get the same amount and kind of material benefits.

Question 30

What is the problem with this viewpoint?

Answer 30

Many might need more than others, and some might need less, or something else entirely.

Question 31

‘Merit-based Justice’ is the philosophical view that…

Answer 31

Individuals are granted good and services based on their achievements and talents, making it unequal.

Question 32

What is the problem with this viewpoint?

Answer 32

‘The rich will get richer and the poor will become poorer’.

Question 33

Rawls disagreed with…

Answer 33

Merit-based justice. He considered it a secret plan to allow the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer.

Question 34

Define the term ‘rags to riches’.

Answer 34

People who raise to the top by committing unjust acts.

Question 35

Define the term ‘Veil of Ignorance’.

Answer 35

When no one has any idea what life they will lead, allowing a fair chance to all.

Question 36

Define the term ‘Justice as Fairness’.

Answer 36

Justice that’s granted based one’s needs.

Question 37

Define ‘retributive justice’.

Answer 37

The belief that a wrongdoer should suffer the same consequences they inflicted on others.

Question 38

Define ‘restorative justice’.

Answer 38

The wrongdoer must mend their ears and repair the harm they’d caused.

Question 39

What is the problem with restorative justice?

Answer 39

Not all victims would be ready to accept or recount what happened to them.

Question 40

What is Welfare Maximisation?

Answer 40

Giving wrongdoers some form of punishment due to the pain and suffering they caused.

Question 41

What is Rehabilitation?

Answer 41

Giving wrongdoers the help they may need so they can become lawful citizens.

Question 42

Define ‘deterrence’.

Answer 42

The punishment of wrong doers needs to be very severe (depending on the crime), as it discourages people from committing the same crimes.