PrepTest 148, Section 2, Question 4
The following passage is adapted from a journal(460 more words not shown)
With which one of the(16 more words not shown)
- AThere are situations(23 more words not shown)
- BUnless individuals set(14 more words not shown)
- CIf an individual(17 more words not shown)
- DMost people agree(10 more words not shown)
- EIt is fair(15 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
Both Rawls and the writer object to the innocent-person execution. Rawls complains that utilitarianism can justify violating a few people's liberty for the many's benefit; the writer presents that consequence as troubling. That gives us shared ground: satisfying a majority does not always justify overriding one person's interests.
What we’re looking for
Keep that agreement separate from the redistribution claim. The writer admires Rawls's approach but expresses a reservation about providing goods at others' expense.
Working the answers
- ACorrect
Protecting the innocent person's interests can take priority over satisfying the mob. Rawls's complaint and the writer's description of the example support that limited claim. We don't need to conclude that one person's preferences always outrank the majority's.
- B
People in the original position are explicitly self-interested. They lack information about their circumstances; they do not have to abandon concern for themselves. B mistakes the removal of potentially biasing information for the removal of self-interest.
- C
Rawls's guarantee of primary goods can require providing them at others' expense. But the writer calls that implication unfortunate, so we cannot treat it as a recommendation both endorse. Also, Rawls's stated guarantee concerns primary goods, not every good someone might lack.
- D
Wanting certain primary goods does not establish agreement about which one is most valuable. No such ranking is supplied.
- E
This restates the sacrifice that troubles both of them. They share an objection to it, not agreement that it is fair whenever it maximizes the majority's satisfaction.
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