Philosophy
Highams Park School
Course summary
The Philosophy A Level course introduces students to some central philosophical ideas, how these ideas developed and their importance today. The course is divided into four units with two exams at the end of the course. Year 12 Philosophy students will study Epistemology and Metaphysics of God. Epistemology is the study of knowledge: what knowledge is, whether we can have knowledge, how knowledge can be acquired and how it relates to truth, belief and justification. In Metaphysics of God you will explore the nature of God, look at arguments for and against the existence of God, some of which you may already have studied in GCSE Religious Studies, and question whether it makes sense at all to talk about God. In Metaphysics of God we will not study the beliefs of a particular religion. Year 13 Students will study Metaphysics of Mind and Moral Philosophy. Metaphysics of Mind is a branch of Philosophy that studies the nature of the human mind and consciousness along with their relationship to the physical body, particularly the brain. Moral Philosophy is a branch of philosophy that investigates questions such as “What is the best way for people to live?” and “What actions are right or wrong in particular circumstances?” The philosophical answers to these questions are then applied and tested against issues relating to stealing, eating animals, simulated killing, and telling lies. We also ask whether there is objective morality and what it might mean if there is not.
Entry Requirements
Checked against your grades — every rule traces to the school's published source.
| Requirement | Rule | You |
|---|---|---|
English Language | Grade 6 in English Language | — |
English Literature Alternative route | Grade 6 in English Literature | — |
As published by the school
GCSE English (Literature or Language) grade 6.
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Assessment
The A Level is 100% exam based. The A Level exam consists of two 3 hour exams at the end of Year 13 covering all the content covered over years 12 and 13. Each of the two papers is worth 50% of the final grade.
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