Quiz: Lectures on Jurisprudence

10 questions drawn at random. Score 80% for a silver medal.

1. 1. What do the lectures identify as the real foundation of the disposition to barter?

   The laws of Sesostris The prudence of legislators Differences of natural talent The principle to persuade
2. 2. Why, according to Smith, do the Hungarians make more of their mines than the Turks on the other side of the same mountains?

   The Turks are forbidden to export metal The Hungarians employ free men, the Turks slaves The Hungarian mines are richer The Hungarians use Dutch capital
3. 3. Whom does Smith credit as the first to attempt a regular system of natural jurisprudence?

   Pufendorf Cocceji Grotius Hobbes
4. 4. What does Smith give as the main cause of the decline of the nobility’s power?

   The Church preaching against their privileges Spending on domestic luxury forced them to dismiss their retainers The loss of their sons in foreign wars Royal confiscation of their estates
5. 5. What are Smith’s four stages of society?

   Hunting, pasturage, farming and commerce Savagery, barbarism, feudalism and civilisation Fishing, hunting, herding and trading Tribe, city, kingdom and empire
6. 6. What does Smith compare the claim of tacit consent by residence to?

   Carrying a man aboard ship, then saying he agreed to obey the master Joining an army in wartime Holding a tenancy on a lord’s estate and so being bound to follow him in war Signing a lease without reading it
7. 7. What does Smith say is the real principle behind our approval of punishment?

   Sympathy with the resentment of the sufferer Fear of the crime being repeated Obedience to divine command Regard to public utility
8. 8. Why, according to Smith, could ordinary citizens of ancient republics take part in public deliberations when modern ones do not?

   Their territories were too small to need representatives Slaves did their work, leaving them free to attend Religion required every citizen to attend They were paid by the state from tribute
9. 9. According to Smith, what first gave rise to regular government?

   The invention of writing and of written laws An agreement among the heads of families to keep peace The building of fortified towns against invaders Property in herds and flocks, which made fortunes unequal
10. 10. What does the story of the merchant who paid 10,000 ducats for water in the Arabian desert illustrate?

    That merchants are cheated by the carriers they hire That water has no natural price, only a market one That in scarcity the fortune of the bidders sets the price That labour is the true measure of all exchangeable value