1. Does inequality of condition lead to inequality of opportunity? How do inequalities in wealth, particularly the circumstances we are born into, affect the opportunities available to us?
2. Do you think the U.S. is a true meritocracy—where those who perform the best and work the hardest are the most successful? Why or why not?
3. The Contractor says rational self-interest gives us reason to comply with the social contact. But wouldn’t rational self-interest favor being a free rider—receiving the benefits of society without doing our part? Can rational self-interest motivate us to hold up our end of the contract?
4. Do we have an obligation to follow laws we don’t agree with? Does social contract theory provide a compelling reason to comply with such laws?
5. Life isn’t fair. Some people are born with more money, more opportunities, and more natural abilities than others, which often leads to substantial advantages in a competitive society. Should society try to correct for these differences to “level the playing field”?
6. Should the law prohibit certain activities because they are offensive to the majority of the population? Some things that have been prohibited on those grounds in the past are obscenity, public nudity, interracial marriage, and flag burning. Is there any reason to permit certain activities even if the majority finds those activities offensive?
7. What is a paternalistic law? Are paternalistic laws consistent? That is, are there some activities that are illegal while more dangerous activities are legal? Give examples.
8. Are our current drug laws just and effective? Why or why not? How, if at all, should they be changed?
