Challenge your knowledge with this engaging justice quiz featuring 20 multiple-choice questions on theories, ethics, and key thinkers. Perfect for students and academics studying philosophy, law, and social justice.

Justice Quiz: 20 Multiple-Choice Questions with Answers

Q1. Which philosopher is most closely associated with the concept of the "veil of ignorance"?

A. Immanuel Kant
B. John Rawls
C. Jeremy Bentham
D. Aristotle

Answer: B. John Rawls

Explanation: John Rawls introduced the "veil of ignorance" in his work A Theory of Justice as a thought experiment to create fair principles of justice. Behind the veil, individuals make decisions without knowing their own social status or position, ensuring impartiality.

Q2. According to utilitarianism, an action is morally right if it:

A. Conforms to universal moral laws
B. Maximizes overall happiness
C. Promotes individual rights above all else
D. Respects cultural traditions

Answer: B. Maximizes overall happiness

Explanation: Utilitarianism, articulated by thinkers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, holds that the right action is the one that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Q3. What is the main focus of distributive justice?

A. Allocation of resources and opportunities
B. Punishment of criminals
C. Respect for cultural diversity
D. Religious morality

Answer: A. Allocation of resources and opportunities

Explanation: Distributive justice concerns how wealth, opportunities, and resources are fairly distributed across society, ensuring equity and fairness.

Q4. Which philosopher is famous for the categorical imperative?

A. Immanuel Kant
B. David Hume
C. Karl Marx
D. Thomas Hobbes

Answer: A. Immanuel Kant

Explanation: Kant’s categorical imperative is a principle of ethical reasoning that emphasizes acting in ways that can be universally applied, grounded in duty rather than consequences.

Q5. Restorative justice primarily emphasizes:

A. Retribution and punishment
B. Rehabilitation of offenders
C. Healing and reconciliation between victims and offenders
D. Protection of state authority

Answer: C. Healing and reconciliation between victims and offenders

Explanation: Restorative justice is based on repairing harm caused by crime, focusing on dialogue, accountability, and reconciliation rather than punishment alone.

Q6. Which justice theory is most aligned with "an eye for an eye"?

A. Restorative justice
B. Retributive justice
C. Distributive justice
D. Procedural justice

Answer: B. Retributive justice

Explanation: Retributive justice emphasizes proportional punishment—wrongdoers deserve to be punished in a way that reflects the harm done.

Q7. Procedural justice refers to:

A. Fairness in the allocation of resources
B. Fairness in the processes and methods of decision-making
C. Punishment proportional to crime
D. The reconciliation process

Answer: B. Fairness in the processes and methods of decision-making

Explanation: Procedural justice is about ensuring fairness and transparency in the processes that lead to outcomes, not just the outcomes themselves.

Q8. Who argued that “justice is the first virtue of social institutions”?

A. John Rawls
B. Aristotle
C. Plato
D. John Stuart Mill

Answer: A. John Rawls

Explanation: Rawls emphasized that justice should be the guiding principle for institutions, as articulated in A Theory of Justice.

Q9. According to Aristotle, justice is best understood as:

A. Obedience to divine will
B. Equality in outcomes for all
C. Giving each person their due
D. Maximizing national welfare

Answer: C. Giving each person their due

Explanation: Aristotle defined justice as fairness, which means treating equals equally and unequals unequally, according to their merits or circumstances.

Q10. In Marxist philosophy, injustice arises fundamentally from:

A. Personal immorality
B. Exploitation in class relations
C. Lack of religious conviction
D. Weak law enforcement

Answer: B. Exploitation in class relations

Explanation: Marx argued that injustice stems from economic inequality and class exploitation under capitalism, which perpetuates social inequality.

Q11. Which concept is central to Rawls’ principles of justice?

A. Difference principle
B. Iron law of oligarchy
C. General will
D. State of nature

Answer: A. Difference principle

Explanation: Rawls’ difference principle allows social and economic inequalities only if they benefit the least advantaged members of society.

Q12. Feminist critiques of traditional justice theories often emphasize:

A. Equality of opportunity alone
B. Rational autonomy over relationships
C. The ethics of care and relational justice
D. Universal punishment standards

Answer: C. The ethics of care and relational justice

Explanation: Feminist scholars argue that justice must include care ethics, emphasizing relationships and empathy, which are often overlooked in traditional justice theories.

Q13. The principle of “greatest happiness” was proposed by:

A. John Locke
B. John Stuart Mill
C. Immanuel Kant
D. Thomas Hobbes

Answer: B. John Stuart Mill

Explanation: Mill refined Bentham’s utilitarianism by distinguishing between higher and lower pleasures, centering moral worth on creating the greatest happiness.

Q14. What is the focus of corrective justice?

A. Allocation of wealth fairly
B. Repairing wrongs through compensation or restitution
C. Promoting cultural harmony
D. Ensuring fairness in law-making

Answer: B. Repairing wrongs through compensation or restitution

Explanation: Corrective justice seeks to rectify imbalances caused by one party wronging another, often through restitution or compensation.

Q15. Who described justice as the “advantage of the stronger”?

A. Socrates
B. Plato (via Thrasymachus)
C. Aristotle
D. Cicero

Answer: B. Plato (via Thrasymachus)

Explanation: In Plato’s Republic, Thrasymachus provocatively argued that justice serves the interests of the powerful, sparking deeper debates on justice and morality.

Q16. Rawls’ “original position” is a thought experiment designed to:

A. Justify monarchy
B. Determine principles of justice impartially
C. Promote religious morality
D. Defend utilitarianism

Answer: B. Determine principles of justice impartially

Explanation: In the original position, individuals, behind the veil of ignorance, design principles of justice without knowing their future roles in society.

Q17. A theory that prioritizes fairness in processes, rather than outcomes, focuses on:

A. Procedural justice
B. Restorative justice
C. Distributive justice
D. Retributive justice

Answer: A. Procedural justice

Explanation: Procedural justice emphasizes that the fairness of processes (e.g., court trials) ensures legitimacy, even if outcomes are unequal.

Q18. Which justice model is most often used in truth and reconciliation commissions?

A. Retributive justice
B. Distributive justice
C. Restorative justice
D. Corrective justice

Answer: C. Restorative justice

Explanation: Reconciliation commissions, such as in South Africa, apply restorative justice by prioritizing healing, truth-telling, and restoration over punishment.

Q19. Kant’s moral philosophy can be described as:

A. Consequentialist
B. Deontological
C. Relativist
D. Pragmatic

Answer: B. Deontological

Explanation: Kant’s philosophy is deontological, meaning actions are judged by adherence to duty and moral principles rather than outcomes.

Q20. The principle “Treat others as you would like to be treated” resembles which ethical idea?

A. Difference principle
B. The Golden Rule
C. Utilitarian calculus
D. State of nature

Answer: B. The Golden Rule

Explanation: The Golden Rule is a universal moral idea emphasizing reciprocity and fairness in human interactions, resonating across many cultures and religions.