Philosophy

Philosophy
At AS you will concentrate on a number of key philosophical themes which are intended to provide you with a broad and varied introduction to Philosophy.At A2 you will specialise further, studying the philosophy of religion and the philosophy of mind and focus on philosophical problems through the study of a key text.

AS Unit 1
An Introduction to Philosophy 1
This unit explores epistemological and metaphysical questions
concerning the nature and extent of human experience. You will also
study the characteristics of personhood such as rationality and being
reflective about one's own experiences, feelings and motives, as well
as those of others.
Written Paper: 1 hour 30 minutes. (50% of the total AS marks)

AS Unit 2
An Introduction to Philosophy 2
The themes of tolerance and the ideal of a liberal democracy will
be explored. Questions concerning the characteristics of tolerant
individuals will be discussed as well as those regarding religious
minorities.
You will also be introduced to two major philosophical arguments:
one for the existence of God (the argument from design) and one
against the existence of God (the problem of evil).
Written Paper, 1 hour 30 minutes (50% of the total AS marks)

A2 Unit 3
Key Themes in Philosophy
Moral Philosophy. You will be debating what morality is, what the relationship is between good and evil, and how morality is identified, experienced and known.
Philosophy of Religion. You will be questioning the reliability of arguments for the existence of God as well as exploring the relationship between faith and reason. We will be debating what is meant by'religion' and the role and significance of miracle stories in religions.
Written Paper, 2 hours. (60% of the total A2 marks)

A2 Unit 4
Philosophical Problems
You will be required to approach Philosophy through a series of
problems raised by the philosopher John Stuart Mill in his classic
text On Liberty.
Written Paper, 1 hour 30 minutes. (40% of the total A2 marks)Philosophy is one of the oldest academic disciplines and as such has always been highly valued for its excellence in preparing people for life after college and university.It is highly regarded by all universities for the variety and depth of skills it promotes. Philosophy is also relevant and useful for degree courses in: Politics and Economics, Law, Medicine, Theology and Religious Studies, History, English, Psychology, Education, Social Sciences, Classics and General Arts and Humanities courses.

Results
SUMMER 2009
A - C grade: 60%
Highlights: 50% of learners achieved an'A' grade or'B' grade, well above the national figure.

Examination Board AQA