Unit focus areas
Unit 1
Students learn a variety of techniques (such as logic) used by philosophers to construct, analyse and evaluate arguments. These techniques provide a foundation for exploring a broad range of philosophical ideas. Following this, students begin their study of metaphysics, which asks the big question, ‘What exists?’ Metaphysics addresses important philosophical ideas about mind and body, personal identity, the existence of God and whether we really have free will. This unit concludes with the study of epistemology, which asks, ‘How do we know what we know?’ This branch of philosophy examines the often-problematic difference between belief and knowledge These problems can be seen in contemporary debates about ‘fake news’ and ‘alternative facts’.
Unit 2
This unit focuses on value theory. The most well-known aspect of value theory is the philosophical study of ethics, which asks, ‘What is the right thing to do?’ Students are introduced to key debates in moral philosophy that stretch back thousands of years. These debates explore whether right and wrong are fundamental aspects of the universe which apply to everyone or if they are social constructs which are only relevant in a specific cultural context After studying ethics, students consider other aspects of value theory, asking ‘What is important?’ This area of study examines aspects of social, political or aesthetic value. It looks at what forms of government are justifiable, how conflicts between rights can be resolved and what the point of art might be.
Unit 3
In Unit 3, students explore one central question: What does it mean to live a good life? For the philosopher, ‘good’ does not necessarily mean virtuous or upstanding. Rather, goodness can take many forms including helping others, seeking personal fulfilment or living in a way that is genuinely authentic. The wide relevance of these ideas means that students must consider individual behaviour, community connection and even the values we place on careers and hobbies. Students reflect on how they and others live and considering what is important in living a good life – pleasure, happiness, friendship, selfindulgence, suffering, freedom, duty or some combination of all these elements?
Unit 4
Unit 4 explores the importance of belief, truth and critical thinking for navigating the modern world. The unit draws on contemporary debates and concerns to encourage students to take ownership of their knowledge, by critically examining the systems through which they have come to know things. This is a fundamentally important skill and attitude in today’s world of opinion, ‘fake news’, ‘alternative truths’ and AI. By applying an interrogative lens to persuasive ideas, students can better understand the philosophical implications of information and language manipulation. Throughout this unit, students consider if they have good reasons for the beliefs they (and others) hold and to develop an understanding of what it means to ‘believe well’.
Pre-requisites
Students can take any Units 3 and 4 pathways without taking Units 1 and 2, although Units 1 and 2 give good preparation for Units 3 and 4 in the same area. See the Humanities Pathways card for more details.
Assessment
Assessments in Units 1 and 2 Philosophy takes a variety of forms but will definitely include short-answer questions, extended responses, and essay writing, in order to develop these skills Assessment has also been conducted with oral presentations and creative responses for certain areas of study.
Units 3 and 4 Philosophy reframes the broader areas of philosophical enquiry by honing in on three distinct questions. All assessments in Units 3 and 4 Philosophy take the form of short-answer questions, extended responses, and essay writing in order to best prepare students for the endof-year examination.
