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KS5

Key Stage Five Curriculum Overview - AQA A-Level Philosophy

Building on the strong foundations established at Key Stages Three and Four, A-Level Philosophy offers students the opportunity to engage with some of the most important questions in Philosophy concerning reality, knowledge, morality, God and the mind. Students are encouraged to think critically, analyse complex ideas and construct clear, reasoned arguments through the study of both classical and contemporary philosophical thought.

Following the AQA specification, this academically rigorous two-year linear course develops students’ ability to engage with abstract concepts, philosophical debate and original philosophical texts. In an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, digital media and competing truth claims, the ability to think carefully and critically has never been more important.

The course is co-taught, meaning students study two core areas of Philosophy alongside one another throughout the academic year.

Assessment at the end of Year 13 consists of two three-hour written examinations which assess students’ philosophical knowledge, understanding and evaluative essay-writing skills.

Year 12: (Please note: Modules 1 and 2 are taught concurrently throughout the academic year.)
CORE MODULE KEY CONTENT OF THE MODULE ASSESSMENT POINTS

Module 1: Epistemology
(The Theory of Knowledge)
  • What is knowledge? The tripartite view (Justified True Belief) and its critiques (Gettier cases).
  • Perception as a source of knowledge: Direct Realism, Indirect Realism and Idealism.
  • Reason as a source of knowledge: Innatism vs. Empiricism.
  • The limits of knowledge: Philosophical scepticism and responses.
  • Formal end of unit exam booklet at the end of each sub-unit.
  • Continuous assessment via low-stakes quizzes and class-based timed assessments.
End of Year 12 Internal Examinations

Module 2: Moral Philosophy
  • Normative ethical theories: Utilitarianism, Kantian Deontological Ethics and Aristotelian Virtue Ethics.
  • Applied ethics: Applying normative theories to real-world issues such as stealing, simulated killing, eating animals and telling lies.
  • Meta-ethics: Exploring the origins of moral principles, moral realism and moral anti-realism.
  • Formal end of unit exam booklet at the end of each sub-unit.
  • Continuous assessment via low-stakes quizzes and class-based timed assessments.
End of Year 12 Internal Examinations
Year 13: (Please note: Modules 3 and 4 are taught concurrently throughout the academic year.)
CORE MODULE KEY CONTENT OF THE MODULE ASSESSMENT POINTS

Module 3: The Metaphysics of God
  • The concept and nature of God: Omniscience, Omnipotence, Supreme Goodness and theological paradoxes.
  • Arguments for the existence of God: Ontological, Teleological and Cosmological arguments.
  • The problem of evil: Logical and evidential problems of evil and religious theodicies.
  • Religious language: Cognitivism vs. Non-cognitivism, Verificationism and Falsificationism.
  • Formal end of unit exam booklet at the end of each sub-unit.
  • Continuous assessment via low-stakes quizzes and class-based timed assessments.

AQA A-Level Examination: Paper 1

Module 4: The Metaphysics of Mind
  • The Mind-Body problem: Exploring the relationship between the mental and the physical.
  • • Dualism: Substance dualism and Property dualism.
  • • Physicalism: Mind-brain type identity theory and Eliminative materialism.
  • • Functionalism: Exploring the theory and its critiques (e.g. Searle’s Chinese Room).
  • Formal end of unit exam booklet at the end of each sub-unit.
  • Continuous assessment via low-stakes quizzes and class-based timed assessments.
AQA A-Level Examination: Paper 2
Support available for A-Level students

To support independent study, all A-Level students will be issued with copies of the two core course companion textbooks by Lacewing and Hodder.

Furthermore, all subject resources, wider reading materials and lesson notes are provided via OneNote, ensuring seamless access both at home and in school.

Students are strongly encouraged to attend the fortnightly Philosophy Society led by Mr. Sampson in S4. This provides an excellent opportunity for sixth-form students to debate complex ideas, present research and explore philosophical questions in a rigorous, collaborative environment.