RE - Philosophy & Ethics
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AS & A Level Philosophy & Ethics course -
The AS \ A2 course provided by the department is composed of two complementary modules. Half the course involves the study of a series of issues in Western Philosophy of Religion, and the other half consists of a study of Ethics, including an exploration of philosophical and religious ethical thinking. These two modules have been chosen to provide students with a wide range of challenging ideas, complex arguments, and the opportunity to explore two of the most significant and fascinating traditions of thought known to mankind.
The course complements all other AS courses and is valued as a rigorous academic subject by employers and universities. It is an ideal course for those wanting to further their study of humanities and arts subjects as well as an excellent alternative addition to the CV of those studying a concentration of mathematics and science A-levels.
“The value of an A-Level in Religious Studies comprising Philosophy and Ethics is welcomed warmly by universities and colleges as a rigorous preparation for academic work and thinking. We have heard many reports from students wishing to pursue medicine or law as well as many other subjects, where university interviewers were greatly impressed by their additional, broadening qualification in this area.”
Howard J Mayled-Porter (Chief Examiner for OCR)
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Why study it? |
'The unexamined life is not worth living’ - Socrates
Studying philosophy is like a ‘work out’ for your brain. The study of the philosophy of religion develops an inquiring mind, the ability to analyse a point of view, the ability to develop and reason through an argument and the ability to reach a logical and justified conclusion. It not only looks great on UCAS forms, but it is also fun and the skills you learn will help you with the other subjects that you study. Studying ethics will give you a remarkable insight into the history of Western morality and will see you engaging with some of the most important questions mankind has ever asked about what is ‘right’ and what is ‘wrong’. These questions underpin much of human experience and will give you a far greater understanding of the decision making processes that are at the heart of individual morality as well as business, law and medical ethics. |
What will I study? |
Philosophy of Religion - This AS module begins by examining the basis of modern philosophy in the works
of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.
It also looks at the understanding of God as seen in the ancient Biblical scriptures. We then move on to study the traditional arguments for the existence of God, and philosophical criticisms of these arguments. We look at the problem of evil and the responses to it before finishing the course with a study of the debate between religion and science. The course continues into A2 with a study of religious language, religious experience, miracles, life after death and the problems associated with the attributes of God. Ethics – in this module we attempt to answer questions such as “are all ethical decisions relative” and “do the ends justify the means?” We focus, for example, on the approach of Utilitarianism, the greatest good for the greatest number. In contrast, we consider whether some actions or attitudes are right or wrong in themselves and look at absolutist ethics such as Kant’s ‘Categorical Imperative’ as a method of defining right and wrong. We also examine religious methods of making ethical decisions and look at medical ethics, including: abortion, euthanasia, embryo research, the ethics of war and genetic engineering. This side of the course continues on to A2 with a study into free will & determinism, ethical language and the concept of conscience.
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