PHIL101:Assessment 4 Multiple Choice Quiz 1.In The Republic, Socrates and several others are engaged in an effort to define A. Politics B. Morality C. Goodness D. Justice E. Fairness 2. According to Plato, the people best suited to rule the city are A. The Poets B. The Politicians C. The Farmers D. The Craftsmen E. The Philosophers 3. At the time that Plato composed The Republic, the form of government in Athens was A. Democracy B. Oligarchy C. Monarchy D. Anarchy E. Republic 4. According to Plato, those best suited to govern the city should A. Be the strongest B. Know how to grow food C. Know how to repair tools D. Know the truth about reality E. Know how to gain power The Saylor Foundation 1
5. Plato thought that the best way to organize society was A. To divide people into classes, each assigned to the task at which they excel B. To divide people into classes based on their interests C. To divide people into classes based on what their parents did D. To divide people into two classes: masters and slaves E. To eliminate all class divisions 6. According to Plato, the most important things to know in order to rule the city are A. Justice and Goodness B. Strength and Power C. Peace and Gentleness D. War and Peace E. Beauty and Ugliness 7. According to Machiavelli, the legitimacy of the law is a product of A. The people B. Justice and goodness C. The threat of force D. The consensus of experts E. The will of God 8. Which of the following is Machiavelli unconcerned with in The Prince? A. Power B. Military C. Wealth D. Morality E. Fear 9. According to Machiavelli, which of the following are a part of human nature? A. Loyalty B. Gratefulness C. Courage D. Honesty E. None of the above The Saylor Foundation 2
10. The political unit Machiavelli was most familiar with was A. The city-state B. The confederacy of states C. The empire D. The protectorate E. The nation-state 11. According to Machiavelli the primary concern of the prince is A. The welfare of the people B. Waging successful wars C. Making peace with other principalities D. Getting and keeping power E. Creating just laws 12.Machiavelli s word for the force of nature that opposes political stability is A. Virtue B. Virtù C. Fortune D. Greed E. Power 13. Hobbes political philosophy is based on the idea of A. Getting and keeping power B. The social contract C. Knowledge of justice and goodness D. The equal distribution of wealth E. Rule by the people 14. Hobbes developed his political philosophy during A. The 15 th century B. The 16 th century C. The 17 th century D. The 18 th century E. The 19 th century The Saylor Foundation 3
15. Hobbes idea of the state of nature is A. Life in a utopian society B. Life without food and shelter C. Life with animals in the wild D. Life without government E. A world without human beings 16. According to Hobbes, human nature is A. Competitive B. Self-interested C. Courageous D. A and B E. B and C 17. According to Hobbes, without some form of government, human life would be A. Peaceful and serene B. A war of all against all C. Quickly killed off by animals D. Ignorant of justice and goodness E. Without meaning 18. Hobbes social contract is an agreement between A. The rulers and the ruled B. All members of a society C. Parents and their children D. Human beings and God E. Citizens and their representatives 19. Which form of government does Hobbes think is best? A. Monarchy B. Anarchy C. Republic D. Democracy E. Oligarchy The Saylor Foundation 4
20. Which political philosopher holds that human nature is basically self-interested? A. Plato B. Machiavelli C. Hobbes D. A and B E. B and C Short Answer Questions Instructions: Answer each question in a clear and organized paragraph. 1. Explain Karl Popper s accusation that Plato s political philosophy is a form of totalitarianism. 2. Professor Steven R. Smith explains that Machiavelli sought to redefine the language of virtue. What does he mean by this? 3. Briefly explain why Hobbes believes human beings naturally avoid living in the state of nature. The Saylor Foundation 5