Question 1

Carrie,Max,and Lisa are friends in high school.Over the years,Carrie becomes a carpenter.Max becomes a computer programmer.Lisa becomes a physician.The government regulates salaries such that Carrie,Max,and Lisa are paid similar salaries,live in similar neighborhoods,and enjoy relatively equal standards of living.What standard of equality would this be an example of?

Accepted Answer

This scenario exemplifies equality of outcome, where the government ensures that everyone achieves similar living standards and incomes, regardless of their job or profession.

Question 2

A Hegelian perspective shows that the ________ relationship is alive and well today in industries such as tomato picking.

Accepted Answer

The Hegelian master-slave dialectic is a concept that describes a dynamic where one party (the master) is dependent on another (the slave) for recognition, but this relationship is inherently unstable and leads to a struggle for recognition and independence. This concept can be applied to modern labor practices in industries like tomato picking, where workers may be exploited or work under conditions that reflect a power imbalance similar to the master-slave dynamic.

Question 3

Which kind of inequality did Jean-Jacques Rousseau believe would always exist?

Accepted Answer

Rousseau believed that physical inequality, stemming from differences in strength, health, or intelligence, was natural and would always exist. He distinguished this from social or political inequality, which he critiqued and believed could be addressed through social contracts and political arrangements.

Question 4

Thomas Malthus believed that the human population grows ________,but the ability to produce food increases ________.

Accepted Answer

Malthus believed that human population grows geometrically (exponentially), meaning it increases at a constant rate over time. In contrast, the ability to produce food increases only arithmetically (linearly), meaning it increases at a fixed rate over time. This creates a mismatch between population growth and food production, leading to issues such as famine, disease, and war. Therefore, option C - geometrically; arithmetically - is the correct answer.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of the ideology of equality of condition put into practice?

Accepted Answer

Affirmative action is a policy aimed at achieving equality of condition by providing preferential treatment to members of historically disadvantaged groups in areas such as employment, education, and business. This policy is intended to level the playing field for those who have been historically marginalized and promote equality of condition.

Question 6

College student Jerry says disease,natural disasters,and even war serve a greater purpose.His friends say his views are offensive,and Jerry replies,"But I'm a Malthusian!" Along with Thomas Malthus,Jerry believes that the benefit of problems that wipe out large number of humans is that:

Accepted Answer

Malthusian philosophy states that population growth will eventually exceed the carrying capacity of the Earth's resources and result in famine, disease, and war. Malthus believed that these problems served a purpose in reducing the population and relieving pressure on limited resources. Jerry's belief that decreases in population lead to decreased pressure on the food supply reducing starvation and misery aligns with Malthusian philosophy. The other choices, survival of the fittest or morally superior individuals, or acceptance of hard parts of life, are not specific beliefs held by Malthus or necessarily shown to be true by historical evidence.

Question 7

Karl Marx and Jean-Jacques Rousseau tended to agree on at least one thing.They both saw the primary source of social ills in society as:

Accepted Answer

Both Karl Marx and Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that private property is the primary source of social ills in society. Marx argued that the capitalist system created inequality and exploitation, while Rousseau believed that private property created a society based on competition and individualism rather than the common good.

Question 8

Hamilton is an African American college student who has benefited from affirmative action.Frank,another student,criticizes him,saying,"You'll sail through college because of affirmative action." Frank is misunderstanding what affirmative action is.Hamilton is benefiting from equality of ________,but Frank misperceives it as equality of ________.

Accepted Answer

Affirmative action is a policy that aims to provide equal opportunities for people who have been historically disadvantaged. In this case, Hamilton is benefiting from equality of opportunity, but Frank misperceives it as equality of outcome.

Question 9

Lisa Geesh is a U.S.senator who supports policies that give preferential treatment to disadvantaged groups in employment and education.She is concerned with:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Lisa Geesh is a U.S.senator who supports...

Question 10

You are dependent on your professor for your grade.Your professor,in turn,is dependent on you for his or her job.Hegel would call this a(n):

Accepted Answer

This is a dialectic relationship because it involves two interdependent parties who rely on each other for their respective goals. The student depends on the professor for their grade, while the professor depends on the students for their job security (through enrollment and performance evaluations). This creates a dynamic relationship that Hegel would describe as dialectic, with mutual dependence and interchange between the two parties.

Question 11

Roman is an activist who would like to see humans live in a state of sharing,equality,and harmony.His friend Omar says,"But if everyone shared and everyone thrived,wouldn't there be too many people?" If Roman and Omar read Thomas Malthus,they would consider the notion that ________keeps the population in check.

Accepted Answer

Thomas Malthus believed that population growth is kept in check by factors such as famine, disease, and war which are all related to inequality in resources and opportunity. Malthus argued that as the population grows faster than the resources available to support it, competition for resources will increase leading to conflict and ultimately reducing the population size. Therefore, the best choice is D) inequality.

Question 12

Jim gets a job in a group home for disabled adults.The executive director tells Jim that if he works hard and earns favorable reviews,he could work his way up to a position of greater responsibility and income.Such a system is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

A meritocratic system is one in which individuals are promoted or rewarded based on their abilities, skills, and performance. In the given scenario, Jim is told that he can work his way up in the organization if he earns favorable reviews, implying that his promotion will be merit-based. Therefore, the best choice is A) meritocratic.

Question 13

A professor assigns a group project.In one group,Darin does nearly all the work.Martin,Aaid,and Abbey seem to shirk responsibility,assuming that because it's a group,someone else will pull the extra weight.Viewed with a sociological lens,this is:

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes the free rider problem, where individuals in a group take advantage of the efforts of others and do not contribute fairly to the group project. This can be seen as a social dilemma, as it can lead to unequal distribution of work and resentment among group members.

Question 14

The game of Monopoly exemplifies equality of:

Accepted Answer

In the game of Monopoly, every player has an equal opportunity to start with the same amount of money and to move around the board. The only difference between players is their strategy and luck, not their background, identity, or condition. Therefore, the game exemplifies equality of opportunity rather than equality of personhood, business, or condition.

Question 15

Consumers and advocates grew concerned about the plight of tomato pickers,an industry marked by exploitation and even slavery.What outcome fits with Hegel's theory?

Accepted Answer

Hegel's theory emphasizes the role of struggle and the dialectical process, where opposing forces clash and eventually give rise to a new synthesis. In this case, the struggle between tomato pickers and exploitative employers can lead to a coalition of determined activists and ultimately break the dependencies between master and slave. Hegel believed that progress is possible through struggle, and that change can arise from the contradictions within a given system. Therefore, option C best aligns with Hegelian thought.

Question 16

The modern capitalist society is an example of which type of society?

Accepted Answer

The modern capitalist society is often referred to as a bourgeois society, which is characterized by the dominance of the middle class, private property, and the pursuit of profit.

Question 17

Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that the source of all social ills was:

Accepted Answer

According to Rousseau, private property was the source of all social ills because it led to inequality and competition, which in turn led to conflict and the exploitation of one group by another. He believed that the solution was to create a society based on the common good, in which individuals would sacrifice their own interests for the benefit of the community as a whole.

Question 18

When sociologists study how race and ethnicity affect income,they are studying the topic of:

Accepted Answer

The study of how race and ethnicity affect income falls under the broader topic of stratification, which refers to the systematic inequalities in society regarding wealth, power, and status. Race and ethnicity are social constructs that may intersect with other forms of stratification, such as class and gender, to produce complex social hierarchies. The study of stratification is a central concern of sociology, as it helps us understand the ways in which social inequalities are reproduced and challenged.

Question 19

Hegel felt that the relationship between slave and master was dialectic.This meant that:

Accepted Answer

Hegel believed that the relationship between slave and master was dialectic because each was dependent on the other. The master needed the labor of the slave, while the slave needed the protection and guidance of the master. This interdependence created a dynamic of mutual recognition, which could ultimately lead to the development of self-consciousness.

Question 20

Hegel argued that notions of inequality are constantly evolving in a larger historical arc and will eventually lead to:

Accepted Answer

Hegel believed that the historical arc of human society leads towards greater equality, as society progresses towards greater recognition of individual rights and freedoms. Therefore, he believed that the evolution of inequality would ultimately lead to greater equality.

Quiz 7: Stratification