Philosophy (A Level)

You will gain an understanding of some of the key theories, arguments and concepts in the history of philosophy and will develop higher order critical thinking skills as well as developing your own coherent, evaluative arguments. You can expect to rigorously criticise existing philosophical arguments in a search for truth, understanding and clarification, and construct your own arguments, leading to balanced and informed judgements. First year units: Epistemology and Moral Philosophy. Second year units: Metaphysics of God and Metaphysics of Mind.

Some of the philosophical questions you will be exploring include:

• What are the immediate objects of perception and is there such thing as an external reality?
• Is the mind a separate substance from the body?
• What is knowledge?
• How successful are arguments for the existence of God?
• Can religious and ethical language be meaningful?

The Philosophy A Level course can complement any academic subject. Most popular combinations include courses such as History, Government and Politics, Economics, English Literature, Maths and Physics. Literacy skills are essential as are the numeracy skills of making logical inferences.

Philosophy (literally love of wisdom) is the academic study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. Philosophy is as rewarding as it is technically challenging. You will learn a variety of pivotal philosophical theories and develop the higher order academic skills necessary for analysing and evaluating complex formalised arguments.  The subject content is highly abstract and disciplined, so you will need to learn the technical vocabulary with which to express your understanding of the extensive variety of concepts and arguments that will be explored. As Socrates said: "An unexamined life is not worth living."

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