Philosophy asks and explores the most important questions there are. It studies the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence and draws students into dialogue with the most searching, creative, and influential thinkers of the last three millennia. The study of Philosophy develops skills in reasoning, argument, and analysis. Students learn how to debate logically and express themselves fluently. This course demands rigor and imagination and encourages deep, clear, and independent thinking to create razor-sharp, informed arguments. Students are required to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of philosophical theories. They must also be able to analyze and evaluate philosophical arguments to form reasoned coherent judgments. Although the specification is arranged thematically, students will have access to a thorough anthology providing them with the set texts in order to carry out independent closer study. Paper One Section A: Epistemology What is knowledge? Do our perceptions reflect reality? Where do our ideas and concepts come from? How can we be sure that there is an external world independent of our minds? How do we access it? This course explores these fundamental debates and acts as a springboard for students’ own ideas. Students will explore the distinction between different types of knowledge and evaluate theories of perception. Section B: Moral Philosophy How do we decide what is morally right? On what basis should we act? What do we need to take into consideration when deciding on the ‘right’ course of action? Students will focus on competing theories of ethics and explore what it is to lead ‘the good life’ through the study of influential thinkers such as Mill, Kant, Aristotle, Hume, and Ayer. Students use an anthology of philosophical texts as a toolkit for analysis, reflection, and application. Paper Two Section A: The Metaphysics of God This unit analyses the concept and nature of ‘God’. Classical arguments relating to his existence are explored such as the ‘ontological argument’, the ‘argument from design’, the ‘cosmological argument’, and ‘the problem of evil’. Students will also explore whether religious language allows for any meaningful discussion of God at all. Section B: The Metaphysics of Mind What do we even mean by the ‘mind’? What is the relationship between the mental and the physical? Are philosophical zombies a possibility? How does the mind causally interact with the body? Can there ever be true artificial intelligence? The theories examined broadly fit into two main strands, those that agree that everything in the world is physical or depends upon the physical and those that do not. In addition, students also explore the extent to which we can be certain that there are minds other than our own.