What will I gain?

• A wide range of key transferable skills such as the ability to reason, develop a coherent argument and critically evaluate different ideas and viewpoints.
• A maturity of thought and clarity of self-expression.
• A highly regarded, rigorous academic qualification that is well-regarded both by employers and courses in Higher Education.

What will I need?

A lively mind, ready to discuss, read and think critically.

5 GCSEs at grade C or above. (Not necessarily including Philosophy & Ethics at GCSE).

What topics will I study?

The course explores two related areas of study:

• Philosophy of Religion:
  In this section, we look at how people's different beliefs shape their experience of life. Key issues include the ancient Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, Arguments for the Existence of God, the Problem of Evil, and the place of religion in a modern, scientific world.
• Religious Ethics:
  This section considers how people make decisions about their lives and moral choices which affect society as a whole. Key issues include ethical theories such as Utilitarianism and Natural Law, and applying these to ethical topics such as genetic engineering, human cloning and war. Other areas of study include the right to life, the right to a child, sex and relationships and the environment.

Examination

This course is examined at the end of each academic year (June) of study.

AS – 2 exams (one Philosophy and one Ethics)
A2 – 2 exams (one Philosophy and one Ethics)

These have equal weighting.

If you are interested in deeper questions about what life is about, this is the course for you.