Information Book Just for Starters - Stockport Grammar School
Information Book Just for Starters - Stockport Grammar School
Information Book Just for Starters - Stockport Grammar School
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PHILOSOPHY<br />
What is Philosophy?<br />
The term “Philosophy” has come to be applied to many different disciplines. Businesses<br />
refer to their corporate philosophy; sports coaches have their own philosophy on the game<br />
whilst star-gazers talk about their philosophy on life. Philosophers, however, have one<br />
primary concern: the truth. Those who practise philosophy seek to identify that which is<br />
beyond doubt and expose the charlatans who wrongly claim to have found it!<br />
What topics are taught at A Level Philosophy?<br />
Students follow the AQA Philosophy syllabus. This subject does not overlap with Religious<br />
Studies (philosophy and ethics) AS/A2, and the academic approach differs significantly.<br />
At AS level, students will study issues relating to knowledge: How do we know anything?<br />
Which sources of knowledge are reliable? As well as issues of personhood – what counts<br />
as a person? Does our personal identity continue throughout time? Students also examine<br />
different theories of the aesthetics – do we have shared notions of ‘beauty’? Can we trust<br />
our perception? Pupils who have an interest in politics also benefit from the A Level course<br />
as A2 pupils study political philosophy.<br />
Specification at a glance: Lower Sixth - AS Modules<br />
Module 1 Introduction to Philosophy 1<br />
• Reason and Experience<br />
• Persons<br />
Module 2 Introduction to Philosophy 2<br />
• Aesthetics<br />
• Free Will and Determinism<br />
Upper Sixth – A2 Modules<br />
Module 3 A2 Key Themes in Philosophy<br />
• Philosophy of Mind<br />
• Political Philosophy<br />
Module 4 A2 Philosophical Problems<br />
• Hume’s Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding<br />
Where to next?<br />
Philosophy is a subject that combines well with all academic disciplines. It is highly respected<br />
by the top universities as it is seen to aid the development of analytical skills and critical<br />
thinking. Indeed, it is students who are prepared to challenge conventional ideas and are<br />
willing to offer an alternative perspective that are likely to prosper in further education.<br />
Perhaps too, the same could be said of life.<br />
Who should study Philosophy?<br />
No particular background in terms of specific subjects studied at GCSE is expected or<br />
required and no prior knowledge of Philosophy is necessary <strong>for</strong> candidates to undertake a<br />
course of study based on this specification.<br />
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