Subject Information

A/AS Philosophy (AQA) is a thought provoking and academically challenging subject that addresses life’s big questions: What is truth? How do we know what is real? Does God exist? Are we free? What does it mean to be good? The course has a multidisciplinary approach to learning that draws on evidence from theology, philosophy, science and the social sciences to explore issues ranging from miracles to human sexuality. A Level Philosophy will equip students with critical reasoning and evaluative skills prized by universities and employers – law, politics, media, education, and social work. Students who take religious studies develop a broader outlook on life and express confidence when engaging with socio-political issues.

Entry Requirements 

GCSE 6+ Religious Education and English or GCSE 6+ in English and a Humanity 

What does A Level Philosophy lead to? 

A level Philosophy is highly regarded by Universities, it provides a good entry standard for further studies in philosophy, law, psychology, classics, social work, media, politics, education and many more.

What you will learn 

Philosophy is divided into four comprehensive components

• Epistemology - you will learn about the distinction between acquaintance knowledge, ability knowledge and propositional knowledge.
• Moral philosophy - this branch deals with the meaning of good, bad and right. You will go deeper in analysing the distinction between right and wrong.
• Metaphysics of God - explores the concept and nature of God. You will delve into the arguments about the existence of God and look at teleological, ontological and cosmological arguments of the concept of God.
• Metaphysics of the mind - the mind is boggling, is it a separate entity from the physical body? In this branch of Philosophy you will learn and analyse theories of the mind written by some of the greatest minds that ever existed, may you will write your own theory one day.

How is Philosophy Assessed?