(Philosophy module)
Why Philosophy ?
Philosophy and religion have generated some of the most powerful ideas in human history. This is a fascinating and challenging course which will deal with some of these ideas and tackle some of the most important questions in human life. For example :
* What's the point of human existence ?
* How do we know what's right and wrong ?
* What can we really be certain of ?
This course will certainly expand a student's mind and improve his or her reasoning powers ! Universities accept students with an AS in Religious Studies or Philosophy on to a variety of courses, in humanities, arts, sciences and social sciences. For example, pupils taking sciences with a view towards medicine might well choose an AS in Philosophy for the exposure to medical ethics that it provides.
"In the world of work, employers look for someone with an enquiring mind, an appreciation of different viewpoints, an ability to come to clear, balanced decisions. These skills all develop through philosophy. If a student wants to work with people, in caring work, teaching, journalism, publishing, with children, health, catering, leisure and tourism or to work in any kind of cosmopolitan setting, philosophy will give him or her plenty to think about and valuable expertise" (Professional Council for Religious Education)
How is Philosophy taught at Aiglon ?
Students will have 5 lessons a fortnight and these will be taken by Mr Padfield and Rev. Long. There will be a great emphasis on class discussion and debate. There will be a varied and challenging approach that includes whole class teaching, individual and group work, educational videos, films, texxtbooks and the Internet. Most lessons will take place in La Dépendance. There will be a number of set texts to read - most of these will be found in the course textbook and will require some disciplined and careful reading.
Who takes Philosophy ?
Students don't have to have taken RS at GCSE, although they do have to be capable of coping with the demands of an academic subject at this level. Nor do they need to be religious ! However, they do need to be open-minded and prepared to have their own ideas and beliefs challenged. Students need to be interested in ideas and curious about the world around them - the way people think and what makes them 'tick'.
Syllabus
The course contains 3 modules :
| Module 1 | Theory of Knowledge | What do we know ? How do we know it ? This module looks at our beliefs, how we acquire them and whether we can rely upon them. |
| Module 2 | Moral Philosophy | What makes our actions right or wrong ? Is there such a thing as 'truth' or is it all just a matter of taste or preference ? This module examines euthanasia, abortion and animal rights |
| Module 3 | Philosophical Text | A study of one of the following : Plato, Descartes, Marx, Engels, Sartre |
Each module is examined by a one hour examination at the end of the course.