Philosophy
In Philosophy we aim to think about big questions carefully, and attempt to develop good reasons for holding one particular view rather than another. It is a subject that can be usefully divided into six major branches:
· Logic - how do we/should we think, and what makes something a rational argument?
· Metaphysics - what kinds of things exist, and what are they like: e.g. does God exist?
· Epistemology - what can we know, and how do we know it: e.g. can I know that other people have minds like mine?
· Ethics - how should I live; what makes something wrong, if anything is wrong; e.g. is polygamy wrong?
· Political Philosophy - e.g. should there be a state in control of parts of my life, and, if so, how much control?
· Aesthetics - e.g. what makes a work of art a good work of art? How can I be moved to tears by characters in a novel, when I know full well that they don’t exist?
WHAT WILL I BE STUDYING ON THE COURSE?
At AS, you will have a chance to learn about several of the areas of Philosophy explained above at an introductory level. Here are some questions that you will be able to consider as part of the AS:
· UNIT 1: An Introduction to Philosophy 1:
o Idea of ‘God’: What is God, and does the idea of a God even make sense? Can we know just by thinking about it that God exists? Is His existence as certain as ‘2 + 2 = 4’? Is the idea of God in our minds from birth, or is it the product of wishful thinking?
o Reason and experience:how do we acquire knowledge? Can we know anything about the world without experiencing it? Can we be sure that what we experience is not just an illusion or a dream? Are we born with any ideas in our mind or are we just a blank slate?
· UNIT 2: An Introduction to Philosophy 2:
o Knowledge of the external world: if four animals see a rose, each as a different colour, which animal is right? Do we see the world the way it really is, or is the real world in some way hidden from us? A tennis ball is both round and green – how are these properties different? If some brie is left in a florist and no one is around to smell it, does it make a smell?
o Value of art: What makes Van Gogh better than my 5 year old sister’s drawing? Can art convey truth? Is emotional content needed for art to be successful? Should we decide how good art is without any reference to emotions or how well it represents?
At A2, you have a chance to learn about several areas of Philosophy, including some covered in the AS, at a higher level:
· UNIT 3: Key Themes in Philosophy - will include the study of key issues arising within some important areas of Philosophy: philosophy of mind and political philosophy.
· UNIT 4: Philosophical Problems - involves the study and evaluation of John Stuart Mill’s text On Liberty examining what it is that we should be free to do, and when the government/society can and should intervene.
WHAT WILL I BE DOING IN LESSONS?
As you might expect, lessons are thought provoking and lively. Difficult issues are presented in a clear and stimulating way (often using challenging stimulus readings) and the rest of the time is spent debating the issues as a class or in small groups, as well as attempting to express and evaluate these ideas and arguments on paper.
As you might expect, lessons are thought provoking and lively. Difficult issues are presented in a clear and stimulating way (often using challenging stimulus readings) and the rest of the time is spent debating the issues as a class or in small groups, as well as attempting to express and evaluate these ideas and arguments on paper.
HOW WILL THE COURSE BE ASSESSED?
Each unit will be assessed by an examination in which students need to both demonstrate knowledge of the key ideas and also show an ability to evaluate these ideas clearly and in detail leading to judgements.
Each unit will be assessed by an examination in which students need to both demonstrate knowledge of the key ideas and also show an ability to evaluate these ideas clearly and in detail leading to judgements.
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO I NEED TO TAKE THE COURSE?
Philosophy is not a subject that is offered at GCSE so everyone begins the course from the same starting point. You should have at least a grade C in English Language or Literature and Mathematics. A good potential philosophy student will most likely be someone who can think logically and objectively, can read and write carefully and critically, and has a willingness to contribute to debate.
WHAT OTHER SUBJECTS COULD I DO WITH PHILOSOPHY?
Philosophy complements and enhances any other area of study.
AND AFTER THE COURSE?
The skills you develop in Philosophy are useful in a wide variety of situations. Many students from the College go on to study Philosophy at degree level, and people who study Philosophy go on to apply their philosophical skills in jobs as diverse as the law, computer programming, management consultancy, film making, journalism, medicine, and all areas in which clarity of thought and expression are essential. Current students are finding that when they go for university interviews, Philosophy has been a major talking point. It is certainly regarded as a valid entrance qualification by universities.
View the Philosophy page on the AQA Website.
Philosophy is not a subject that is offered at GCSE so everyone begins the course from the same starting point. You should have at least a grade C in English Language or Literature and Mathematics. A good potential philosophy student will most likely be someone who can think logically and objectively, can read and write carefully and critically, and has a willingness to contribute to debate.
WHAT OTHER SUBJECTS COULD I DO WITH PHILOSOPHY?
Philosophy complements and enhances any other area of study.
AND AFTER THE COURSE?
The skills you develop in Philosophy are useful in a wide variety of situations. Many students from the College go on to study Philosophy at degree level, and people who study Philosophy go on to apply their philosophical skills in jobs as diverse as the law, computer programming, management consultancy, film making, journalism, medicine, and all areas in which clarity of thought and expression are essential. Current students are finding that when they go for university interviews, Philosophy has been a major talking point. It is certainly regarded as a valid entrance qualification by universities.
View the Philosophy page on the AQA Website.
