The Philosophy ‘A’ Level is academically challenging and encourages students to think beyond their everyday experiences, in such manner that they will be encouraged to examine philosophical and related issues that are of perennial concern, for example, ‘how do you know that it is you reading this document?’ It is designed to enable students to gain a thorough grounding in key philosophical concepts, themes, texts and techniques. Ultimately,
Philosophy is as demanding as it is satisfying – it reaches those parts other subjects cannot reach!
Students should develop a range of transferable skills which can be applied far beyond the study of Philosophy. For example, students develop the ability to reason, form their own judgments, express themselves coherently and contribute to the process of debate. Philosophy teaches many useful skills and is an excellent subject to prepare students for many university degree courses; it is particularly useful for careers in business, law, journalism, the civil service and teaching.
Exam Board:
AQA 1171/2171
Subject entry requirements:
In addition to GCSE English Grade C…none
Exam Units:
AS Level – Unit 1 Phil 1
An Introduction to Philosophy 1
Epistemology: Rationalism and Empiricism
Moral Philosophy: Why should I be moral?
Philosophy of Religion: The idea of God
AS Level – Unit 2 Phil 2
An Introduction to Philosophy 2
Epistemology: Knowledge of the external world
Philosophy of Religion
God and the world
The debate over free will and determinism
A2 Level – Unit 3 Phil 3
Key Themes in Philosophy
Epistemology and metaphysics
Moral Philosophy
Philosophy of Religion
A2 Level – Unit 4 Phil 4
Philosophical Problems
Nietzsche’s ‘Beyond Good and Evil’
Assessment is by examination only
|