Philosophy AS Level

Philosophy AS Level
This course will introduce you to debates on some of the great questions of human life, from the ancient past to the present day: who are we and what is the point of life? Can we be certain that the world really is how it seems to us? What is a person? Are we free? Philosophy is for anyone who is interested in exploring these questions and the answers that have been offered by philosophers; you will need to be prepared for some serious reading and some rigorous thinking.

What does the course involve?
This specification has been designed to enable students to gain a thorough grounding in key philosophical concepts, themes, texts and techniques. Students will develop a range of transferable skills which can be applied far beyond the study of philosophy.

Students will learn about the range of answers that have traditionally been given to questions about the nature of knowledge and about what it means to be a person, how different arguments have been criticised and defended, and how these fit into the work of famous philosophers past and present. Students will also gain practice in forming their own evaluation of what makes philosophical sense, and what doesn't.

During the course, time will also be spent on critical thinking skills which will introduce students to the proper structure of philosophical argument, enabling identification of different types of argument and a range of fallacies or flaws as well as philosophical tools for use in argument evaluation.. .

What will I study?
Unit 1.1: Reason and Experience We encounter the world through our senses, but isn't it possible to conceive some things that may never be confronted via sensation? We experience the world as something understood, but does recognising what we see, taste, touch, hear or smell involve nothing more than submitting to stimuli? How much do we contribute to the way the world appears to us in experience? These issues assumed centre stage in the debate between rationalism and empiricism, but have a longer history and are still concerns in contemporary philosophy.

Unit 1.2: Persons What are the characteristics of personhood? Rationality; being reflective about one's experiences, feelings and motives as well as those of others; possessing a network of beliefs; awareness of oneself as a continuing subject of experience and creativity. Can we have non-human persons and humans who are not persons? What secures personal identity over time?

Unit 2.1: Knowledge of the External World This unit explores in greater detail the epistemological account of knowledge that is empiricism. It raises both epistemological and metaphysical questions concerning the nature and extent of human experience.

Unit 2.2: Free Will and Determinism Determinism is defined as the belief that a determinate set of conditions can only produce one possible outcome, given fixed laws of nature. This is distinguished from fatalism, the religious notion of predestination and predictability. Chance as compatible with determinism; free will as requiring a gap in universal causality; human decision-making as occupying a special place outside the natural order. The extent to which praise, blame and punishment can be meaningfully employed.

How is the course assessed?

• Examination at the end of the course

What other costs are there?
Supplementary Costs
Band A (£0 - £50)

Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is this course?
The stereotype of the philosopher who uses lots of long and incomprehensible words is not entirely accurate. It is a great virtue in philosophy to be able to express ideas clearly and in everyday language. (Having said that, we will teach you some marvellous long words as well!) Philosophy is quite demanding - it does require you to think logically and master a lot of new ideas. But it's not impossibly difficult: motivation and interest are as important as brains!

How useful is it?
Some people would argue that philosophy doesn't have to have a use, it's just exciting and important to ask questions about who we are, what we know, and how we should live. Philosophy isn't about making you into a better engineer or a better businessperson, it's about understanding what it means to be human. On the other hand, while you are learning to do philosophy you will be practising skills that have a very wide range of applications, such as the ability to take in complex ideas, analyse them and reach clear conclusions, how to state an argument and support it with logic, and how to analyse other people's ideas and see their strong and weak points. You can use these skills in your further studies, in your career and relationships.

Is it about having fun debates in class?
Yes! But not all of the time - you need to be prepared to have your ideas challenged, to do a lot of reading, to submit your opinions to critical scrutiny, and to learn about the ideas of other great philosophers apart from yourself!
Exam Board = AQA

This information is believed to be correct. Cirencester College continually updates and reviews its provision to ensure that it meets the needs of the community. Therefore the right to amend, change or delete learning programmes, accreditation routes or terms and conditions relating to entitlement to study is reserved at all times. We aim to provide open access to a comprehensive range of high quality education and training for the whole community over the age of 16 regardless of race, class, belief, language, gender, sexual orientation, disability, previous educational attainment or particular circumstances.

Entry Requirements

You will need grade C in FIVE of the following (inc. short GCSEs) : English Language or Literature/Humanities (History,Geography,RS,Sociology,Psychology)/Business/Science (Core and Additional OR triple)/Maths/Foreign Language - If that does not include GCSE English Language, you must take this course at college and achieve a C to progress to A2.
You must achieve a grade C in any GCSE taken which is directly related to this AS level unless a higher grade is specified.