Philosophy & Ethics

Philosophy & Ethics is an academic subject which is well-respected by many of the more traditional universities.

To study philosophy and ethics is to study the whole of human life: where we come from, where we’re going and everything in between. It involves not taking things at face value, arguing and discussing issues which affect us all and researching the works of many famous and world-renowned scholars, such as Plato, Socrates and Aristotle. In ethics, you will cover dilemmas including how to live a good life, our rights and responsibilities, the language of right and wrong and moral decisions.

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Entry requirements

Grade 6+ RE GCSE or Grade 6+ GCSE English if RE was not studied at GCSE.

Content

The OCR A Level course has three components:

Component 1:	Philosophy
Component 2:	Ethics
Component 3:	Development of Christian Thought (DCT)

In Year One Philosophy, you will study ancient Greek views on reality and the existence of the soul before moving on to arguments trying to prove God’s existence and religious experiences. You will end with the problem of evil, which Hume calls the ‘rock of atheism.’

In Year One Ethics, you will study normative ethical theories such as Natural Law and Utilitarianism, amongst others, before applying them to issues of euthanasia and business ethics.

In Year Two Philosophy/DCT you will study the nature of God before looking at the importance of religious language and how it is used. Then you will start the DCT paper by looking at how Christianity has developed from Augustine’s views on human nature to issues of gender in society today.

In Year Two Ethics/DCT you will study the conscience and ethical language before applying all you have learnt to sexual ethics. In DCT you will look at the person of Jesus and how moral principles have been developed all the way through to how society is becoming more secular.

Assessment

100% Examination

Am I right for the course?

If you thrive on debate and discussion and love to question the "why" behind things, this course is perfect for you. Rather than accepting information at face value, you'll learn to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses. You'll cultivate a passion for discussing moral issues and exploring topics that impact our society. Some of the skills you develop are transferable to other subjects, such as the ability to analyse and think critically, and the ability to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of an argument.

Course Highlights

Hands-on Experience:	Essay writing competitions.
Personal Development:	Develop your ability to ask penetrating questions, to analyse and evaluate the arguments of others and to present arguments clearly and logically.
Enrichment:	We offer trips to lectures at St Mary’s to experience what the subject would be like at degree level. We offer trips to conferences that will support the subject knowledge and evaluative skills run by experts in the exam and philosophical thought.

Where next?

An A Level in Philosophy and Ethics can be the starting point for a variety of careers – from teaching to archaeology. As a highly regarded subject, it opens doors to a range of career paths, including law, philosophy, social work, teaching and community work.

Once you’re trained in your chosen field, your qualification will open up a whole new world of possibilities – you could go on to become a teacher, anthropologist, solicitor, or even a diplomat, depending on what you go on to study at university.

FAQ's

Is it the same as RE? There are religious elements but they are different. We look much more at the big questions as well as looking at ethics and morality.
Is there a coursework element to this A Level?
No, this A Level is assessed by three two-hour exams and essay writing.

St Wilfrid's Catholic School

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