Philosophy

Course summary

Exam board – AQA, Specification 7172 Minimum requirements for the course: Grade 6 a Humanities subject. Staff contact: Mr M Gibson, mgi@cheneyschool.org What is Philosophy all about? Philosophy is the study of arguments and the skill of clear, logical argumentation. During this A-Level course, you will encounter some of the major arguments in the history of philosophy, often reading the original texts in which these arguments are found. You will also develop your ability to articulate why these arguments succeed or fail and in doing so learn how to construct your own philosophical arguments. Course structure: Section 1: Epistemology (the study of what we can know) Section 2: Moral Philosophy (the study of what makes something right or wrong) Section 3: The Metaphysics of God (the study of whether God exists) Section 4: The Metaphysics of the Mind (the study of what it means to have a mind) Complementary courses: Philosophy is complementary to all Humanities and Social Sciences subjects, English Literature, and the Arts. Mathematics students often enjoy Philosophy. A-Level Philosophy and Religious Studies can be taken together or separately. Resources: AQA AS Philosophy, Hayward, Jones & Cardinal. Bursary students can request a copy from the Bursary Fund. Leads to: Philosophy leads to any degree that requires logical thinking and argumentation. It also leads to degrees involving ethical thinking, including Medicine and Computer Science. A-Level Philosophy students often pursue the subject at university: a smart financial choice as philosophy graduates are the best paid humanities graduates due to their recruitment into law, technology and consulting. What students say: ‘Philosophy broadened my horizons, forever changing the way I see certain things, and taught me things I previously thought I wasn’t good enough or smart enough to know.