Philosophy and Ethics Welcome to GCE Philosophy and

Philosophy and Ethics

Welcome to GCE Philosophy and Ethics By the end of this course you will: • Appreciate the contribution of philosophy and ethics to the understanding of the wider world. • Develop transferable skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, negotiating, communication and expressing complex ideas. • These qualities and attitudes will equip you for the challenges, opportunities and responsibilities of adult and working life.

Is Philosophy and Ethics a respected A Level? The Russell Group of top universities has made it clear that RS A level provides ‘suitable preparation for University generally’. Cambridge and Oxford list Philosophy and Ethics as a suitable ‘arts’ A Level alongside History, Geography and English Literature. In fact 20% of students admitted to Oxford University to study maths in 2012 had a Philosophy and Ethics A level (more than those with Economics, Physics and Business Studies A levels).

Is Philosophy and Ethics a respected A Level? “Employers have discovered that a mind sharpened by the study of Philosophy is ideal for today’s work place. ”

GCE Philosophy and Ethics “We have seen the consequences of people not thinking through the consequences of their actions and not testing their assumptions. Smart employers want people who can see ahead. ” Institute of Philosophy at University of London.

Where can Philosophy and Ethics A Level take me? The skills that you will learn in Religious Studies will be useful to you in any number of careers: • • • Teaching Youth work Social work Journalism Lawyer Charity work Anthroplogy Civil service Counsellor

Economics A Level: Assessment Exam board: Assessment: Percentage: Examination 100% Coursework - Detail: • 2 exams sat at the end of Year 13. Paper 1: 1 hr 30 mins (50%) Paper 2: 1 hr 30 mins (50%) -

What will I study? Christianity • Key Christian beliefs • Religious figures and sacred texts • Social and Historical developments in religious thought • How religion shapes personal identity Philosophy Themes • Arguments for the existence of God • Challenges to religious belief • Religion as a product of the human mind • Religious Experiences, i. e. mysticism, visions, miracles Ethics Themes • Influences on moral decision making • Is morality intuitive? • What determines if an action is good/bad, right/wrong? • Are actions predetermined or do we have free will?

Commitment GCE Philosophy and Ethics What skills are needed? • An ability to think critically • An ability to present a reasoned argument • Application skills to relate real world events to philosophical and ethical theory • To present your own opinion clearly and coherently • Essay writing skills Expectations and workload • 3 internal formal assessments completed per academic year • 2 to 3 homework assignments completed per week (essays, research or readings) • High level of independent reading to support classroom learning • An intrinsic interest in current affairs and appreciation of the diversity of the culture we live in.

The Trolley Scenario "Suppose you are the driver of a trolley. The trolley rounds a bend, and there come into view ahead five track workmen, who have been repairing the track. The track goes through a bit of a valley at that point, and the sides are steep, so you must stop the trolley if you are to avoid running the five men down. You step on the brakes, but alas they don't work. Now you suddenly see a spur of track leading off to the right. You can turn the trolley onto it, and thus save the five men on the straight track ahead. Unfortunately, . . . there is one track workman on that spur of track. He can no more get off the track in time than the five can, so you will kill him if you turn the trolley onto him" (Thomson 1985, 1395). What do you think would be the correct thing to do in this situation- why?

Option 1 Throw the switch in order to maximize well-being (five people surviving is greater than one) Utilitarianism Utilitarians believe the most ethical course of action is the one that offers the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Utilitarians value consequence over action.

Option 2 Throw the switch because you are a virtuous person, and saving five lives is the type of charitable and compassionate act a virtuous person performs Virtue Ethics Virtue ethicists determine ethicality by considering the character or natural tendencies of a person as opposed to their actions or the consequences of their actions

Option 3 Do not throw the switch because that would be a form of killing, and killing is inherently wrong Deontology "Deontology. . . is an approach to ethics that focuses on the rightness or wrongness of actions themselves, as opposed to the rightness or wrongness of the consequences of those actions"

Option 4 Do not throw the switch because you are a Christian, and the Ten Commandments teach that killing is against the will of God. Divine Command Theory Divine command theorists believe the only ethical and moral courses of action are those that coincide with the will or command of God.

Can we ever know if God exists? Why?

Should religion have ultimate authority?

If miracles are possible, why does God choose to help some people and not others?

The role of religion: is it a projection of need or used as a tool to oppress the poor?

GCE Philosophy and Ethics Department contact details • Mrs Sherrie Docherty (PD) • SDocherty@toothillschool. co. uk • 01949 863072 2015/16 Department Performance • 75% of students achieved an A*-C grade at the end of Year 13 • 91% of student achieved an A-C grade at the end of Year 12 Example student destinations • • History – Oxford University Philosophy – University of Nottingham Forensic Science – Staffordshire University Politics – Sheffield University Social Anthropology – Edinburgh University Criminology – Derby University Psychology – University of York Course requirements • College entry requirements • Essential: Grade ‘ 5’ in GCSE English Literature and Language • Desirable: B grade in GCSE Philosophy and Ethics

GCE Philosophy and Ethics Enrichment Conference at Cambridge University Also students will have opportunity to take part in cross-curricular trip to Paris with students from MFL, Geography, History and Law

Favourite part of the course I like having lively debates in lesson – we all think different things and it’s interesting to hear other opinions, especially in ethics when we all think differently! I like the unusual tasks we do like making a rap about creationism or looking at baby photographs to help us think about personal identity. My favourite part of Philosophy it that it doesn’t tell me what to think, but how to think. This is the main reason I have chosen to do it at university.

Philosophy and Ethics