A Level Philosophy

Paper 1: Epistemology and Moral Philosophy: What is knowledge? Realism, Idealism, Innatism, Normative Ethical Theories, Applied Ethics and Meta-Ethics

In Epistemology you will look at what knowledge is and where knowledge comes from. We will explore whether knowledge is able to be formed only from perception or whether reason can also be a source of knowledge. We will also look at one of the most influential philosophers of all time (Descartes) and whether there is a limit to knowledge by applying his scepticism.

In the Moral Philosophy section, we will delve into ideas about what makes an action right or wrong, focussing on normative ethical theories such as Utilitarianism and Virtue Ethics and Deontology. The area of moral philosophy also explores applied ethics, looking at matters such as stealing, eating animals and telling lies. Such topics can all lead into theory on moral realism and the existence of our own morals.

Paper 2: The Metaphysics of God and the Metaphysics of Mind: The nature of God and arguments relating to the existence of God, Religious Language, What do we mean by mind, Dualist and Physicalist theories and Functionalism

In The Metaphysics of God we will look into the nature of God and how that can allow us to question or prove the existence of a higher being. This includes the famous ontological, cosmological and teleological arguments as well as exploring the biggest problem for believers; The Problem of Evil. We will also look into religious language and the issues around verification and falsification.

The Metaphysics of Mind looks at whether minds exist and are not identical to bodies, or whether there are some properties of the mind that are not reducible to physical properties. In short, we ask the question What is the mind? And where could it be situated?