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Case studyNatasha
Case study
"Philosophy is the surprised pikachu meme but constant. You learn so many different perspectives and viewpoints that differ from yours that you may be in a constant state of surprise. But it's all worth it, you get to engage in introspection and find your view of the world, you get to mature your points and safely change your mind without it being considered a weakness, you also get to feel clever as you make the same arguments as some of the great philosophers without even learning their view."
You learn so many different perspectives and viewpoints that differ from yours. You may be in a constant state of surprise, but it’s all worth it!
Philosophy (A Level)
Assessment- Year 1 & 2
100% Exam - Exam board
AQA - Specific entry requirements
Grade 5 in GCSE English Language or English Literature.
What Will You Learn?
You will engage with the big questions in a secular context: Can we be sure that we really exist? How should we behave? Should we believe in God? Who/what am I?
These are all questions that don’t have easy or obvious answers. Not only will you have the opportunity to explore and debate these fundamental questions, you will also learn to be clear and precise in your thinking and writing, how to analyse and evaluate the arguments of others and how to construct and defend your own arguments. Are you prepared to open your mind to see things in a different way? Do you enjoy arguing constructively? Are you willing to tackle some thought-provoking ideas? If so, Philosophy is for you!
Modules
Year 1
- Epistemology (What can we know and how can we know it? Should we trust our senses? Are we born with any knowledge?)
- Moral Philosophy (How do we decide what is morally right and wrong? Is it wrong to eat meat? Does it matter if I play violent video games?)
Year 2
- Metaphysics of God (Does the concept of God make sense? Can we prove that God exists? Does the existence of evil and suffering prove that God does not exist?)
- Metaphysics of Mind (What is the mind and how does it relate to the body? Do we have a soul? Can I know if other people have minds?)
Special Features
Budding philosophers are encouraged to read widely and we discuss this in-depth in class.
Some examples are:
- Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (Edward Craig)
- The Philosophy Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained (DK Publishing)
- Philosophy 101 (Paul Kleinman)
- A Little History of Philosophy (Nigel Warburton)
- Sophie's World (Jostein Gaarder)
Where Will This Lead?
An A Level in Philosophy is a highly regarded qualification that will enable you to access a wide range of degree courses. It is also a good choice for careers in the legal professions, police, Civil Service and charity work. More generally, Philosophy will help you gain a range of transferable skills which are invaluable across numerous professional sectors, including critical, analytical, problem solving and communication skills.
