Philosophy
Where curiosity meets critical thinking
Philosophy is often defined as the study of concepts (for example, Beauty, Time, Goodness, Proof, Mind, Gender, and Race). Philosophy attempts to untangle and define these complex concepts, and so enable us to resolve the disagreements produced by them.
Imagine this: one day, you're grappling with the timeless ethical dilemmas posed by utilitarianism and Kantian ethics, pondering whether the consequences or the principles behind our actions hold more weight. The next, you're immersing yourself in the teachings of Aristotle, exploring the virtues that shape a flourishing life.
But wait, there's an ethical twist! Picture yourself at the crossroads of existentialism, wrestling with Jean-Paul Sartre's notion of radical freedom and the anguish of choice. Then, fast forward to the realm of applied ethics, where we examine real-world issues like climate change, animal rights, and medical ethics through the lenses of consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics.
Yet, philosophy isn't just about grappling with abstract ideas—it's about understanding the world and our place within it. Dive into the riveting dialogues of Plato, where Socrates challenges conventional wisdom and invites us to question the very foundations of our beliefs. Journey with Simone de Beauvoir as she navigates the complexities of gender and existentialist feminism, igniting discussions on identity and liberation.
At RIC, our philosophy course isn't just an academic pursuit—it's a journey of self-discovery and critical inquiry. It's about honing your analytical skills, cultivating empathy, and engaging with diverse perspectives. So, whether you're drawn to the ethical quandaries of our time or the existential musings of the great philosophers, philosophy at RIC invites you to embark on a transformative quest for knowledge and understanding.
Philosophy trains the ability to analyse or argue for a certain position and so overlaps with other subjects based on these skills such as Government and Politics, Sociology, English Literature, Psychology, Film Studies and History. The course also relates, via its subject content, to the sciences.
Much of the course exists on the crossover between Philosophy and science and philosophy of mind is, currently, an area in which neuroscientists, psychologists and philosophers all work. The Russell Group describe Philosophy A level as providing “suitable preparation for entry to university in general”, and so it is a subject that can complement a range of different subject profiles and university applications.
One cannot conceive anything so strange and so implausible that it has not already been said by one philosopher or another.
Exam Specification
Assessment method
100% exam
Length of exams 2 x 3 hour exams
The Philosophy A-level focuses on four main concepts:
1. Knowledge
What is the definition of Knowledge? Is there a difference between knowledge and true belief?
Can we gain knowledge of the real world through the senses? We usually assume that there is a real world, and our senses put us in some kind of direct contact with it. But there are some questions that need to be asked here. What does it mean to call an object real? Do the things we perceive fulfil this criteria? How can we explain cases of illusion, such as when objects appear in ways that do not reflect how they really are?
Whilst the senses are often seen as the source of knowledge, many thinkers have thought there to be a different source of knowledge. Some truths may be Innate, they argue, so that we are born knowing them. Or some truths may be discoverable through a kind of “intuition”, which enables us to grasp truths unavailable to the senses.
2. Morality
What does it mean to call something right, wrong, good, or bad? Are these objective statements, describing real features of the world, or are these just expressions of our feelings or opinions? If they are just expressions of our feelings, does this mean we cannot morally condemn those who act in morally abhorrent ways?
How do we decide what is good or bad? Are any acts wrong in all situations? Should we be concerned only with the effects of our actions, or do other features such as our intentions matter?
What does the above tell us about specific ethical issues? Such as stealing, simulated killing (within computer games, plays, films etc.), eating animals, and telling lies.
3. God
Is the concept of God one that makes sense? Could God create a stone so heavy he cannot lift? If God
is all powerful, can he commit evil actions?
Religious Language. What do claims like “God exists” mean? Are they, as we tend to assume, statements asserting the presence of some kind of entity (similar to scientific statements such as “black holes exist”). Or are they better understood as performing some other task, such as expressing feelings or making moral judgements?
Can the existence of god be proved or disproved by argument? Such as the design argument, cosmological argument, Ontological argument, or problem of evil.
4. Mind
What is the mind? What are mental states, such as thoughts, beliefs, intentions, and pains?
Are the mind/mental states non-physical? For example, perhaps the mind is some kind of non-physical “soul”, connected to our body in some mystical way.
Are the mind/mental states physical? For example, perhaps the mind is just an old fashioned name for the brain. Would it be possible to create a machine that had a mind?
Philosophers Studied
In the course of study students will examine the work of ancient Philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Aquinas, philosophers from the modern period such as Kant, Descartes, and Hume, all the way up to contemporary Philosophers such as Frank Jackson, Anita Avramides, and Linda Zagzebski.
Curious about Philosophy?
Read
What can I do with a degree in Philosophy? - A collection of testimonies from 30 people who studied Philosophy, including Optometrists, Physicians, lawyers, TV producers, teachers, therapists, and many more, discussing how their philosophy degree helped prepare them for their careers
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uJCN-hOMVp8GQ1A3SEKHNBOCLOiupkdS/view?usp=sharing
“Think” by Simon Blackburn - An introduction to philosophy, via a discussion of Eight areas of discussion. Of particular relevance to the A-level course are the sections on Knowledge, Mind, God, and What to Do
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pEr_s3Adr69FDP32VWFLXXc_FQMIdXs5/view?usp=sharing
Online
https://plato.stanford.edu/index.html - An in depth encyclopedia on almost every Philosophical topic that exists.
http://dailynous.com – News and Articles about Philosophy and the Philosophy profession
http://existentialcomics.com – Webcomics about Philosophy
https://www.reddit.com/r/philosophy/ - The reddit Philosophy page
https://www.aldaily.com – A collection of articles, news stories, and criticism on a wide range of topics, including those of Philosophical interest
Listen
https://philosophybites.com – Short, 20 minute podcasts with Philosophers talking about their area of expertise
https://partiallyexaminedlife.com – A podcast series talking about key texts and thinkers within Philosophy
https://hiphination.org – Podcasts weaving Philosophical Ideas into Narrative Storytelling
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01f0vzr/episodes/downloads - BBC Radio 4’s “In Our Time” Series, discussing the life and works of Great Philosophers
Watch
https://www.youtube.com/user/thephilosophytube - A series of Videos ranging from short introductions to Philosophical ideas, ranging to larger discussions of subjects like race, gender, personal data, and Marxism
https://www.youtube.com/user/crashcourse - Crash Course Philosophy: A series of short, introductory videos to Philosophical topics, many of which are studied on the A-level Syllabus