PHILOSOPHY

Our curriculum is a driver for social justice: allowing students at Strood Academy to become inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people, equipped to participate fully in social life and achieve excellent academic and vocational qualification outcomes which unlock aspirational career and employment opportunities.

The overarching emphasis of the DP philosophy course is on students “doing philosophy”, that is, actively engaging students in philosophical activity. This means that a key focus of the course is on encouraging students to explore complex philosophical concepts and questions in a curious and critical way, articulating their own views on the issues they encounter and developing their own philosophical voice.

In Year 12 the students gain an understanding of Philosophy while developing the necessary skills to undertake the different assessments throughout the two years. By half way through Year 12 the students will have embedded their knowledge and understanding of Philosophy which will allow them to apply this to further units which focus on specifics such as political philosophy and the philosophy of ethics. The students will also continue to develop their philosophical skills as they look to completing the internal assessment and the HL extension tasks in Year 13.

Year 12

Module 1

• Philosophy skills and writing philosophy

Module 2 & 3

• The search for a better understanding of ourselves as individuals
• The search for a better understanding of ourselves as members of our communities
• The exploration of interpretations of the human condition from diverse perspectives

Module 4

• Political Philosophy:
  Historical Development
  Ideologies of Government
  Civil Duties
  Revolution
  Justice
  Human Rights

Module 5

• HL extension The HL extension topic “Philosophy and contemporary issues” is compulsory for all HL students. This element of the course focuses on an exploration of pressing issues relating to technology and the environment. Students consider how philosophy can help us to engage with these kinds of issues, and reflect on their own experiences of doing philosophy in the course.

Module 6

• The HL extension topic “Philosophy and contemporary issues” is compulsory for all HL students. This element of the course focuses on an exploration of pressing issues relating to technology and the environment. Students consider how philosophy can help us to engage with these kinds of issues, and reflect on their own experiences of doing philosophy in the course.

Year 13

Module 1

• The HL extension topic “Philosophy and contemporary issues” is compulsory for all HL students. This element of the course focuses on an exploration of pressing issues relating to technology and the environment. Students consider how philosophy can help us to engage with these kinds of issues, and reflect on their own experiences of doing philosophy in the course.

Module 2 & 3

• Normative Ethics:
  Ethical Language
  Applied Ethics
  Wealth Distribution
  Environmental Ethics

Module 4

• Internal assessment – philosophical analysis:
  Students are required to write a philosophical analysis of a non-philosophical stimulus such as a film, painting, or poem.

Paper 1 part A; This component consists of stimulus-based questions on the core theme.

Paper 1 part B; This component consists of thematic essay questions on the optional themes.

Paper 2; This component consists of an open book assessment on the prescribed philosophical texts.

Paper 3; This component asks students to respond to an unseen extract from a philosophical text that discusses a pressing contemporary issue relating to technology or the environment.

Internal assessment; This component requires students to write a 2000-word philosophical analysis of a non-philosophical stimulus of their choice.