Philosophy and Ethics (Religious Studies)

STATEMENT OF INTENT 

Religious Studies students at Charters School are interested and motivated by events, people and beliefs. As part of a local and wider community they are up to date with news and current affairs. They read and learn about issues as well as learning from them. Pupils engage in dialogue and debate and enjoy critical thinking. Pupils study a wide multi-faith curriculum debating current affairs with thought-provoking topics.

This means:

• Students will appreciate the significance of holy places, beliefs, traditions and culture around the world.
• They will be able to identify, analyse and evaluate different interpretations of the past and reach a balanced and reasoned judgement. Places of Worship, Religion & the Media.
• They will be able to confidently articulate their understanding of the past both in academic writing as well as through debate and discussion. Sanctity of Life, Science & Ethics.
• They will appreciate the ethnic and cultural diversity of our community and thereby become inclusive members of our society. Religion, Human Rights & Social Justice.
• Through reading and writing, they will develop a critical and enquiring mind, which appreciates the impact of individual endeavour and shows empathy with the past. Global Issues, Interfaith Dialogue.

SUMMARY OF CURRICULUM

A level Religious Studies Students follow the OCR syllabus. Students will take a historical approach to Philosophy and will consider different lines of argument from a variety of thinkers. Key thinkers from Plato, Aristotle, Mill and Kant are studied with contemporary contributions from Peter Singer and a variety of religious groups. The A level requires students study and develop the skills of knowledge and understanding with critical argument. Students are encourage to engage themselves fully in class discussion and involve themselves with current political and philosophical debate. Listening is an important skill in discussion and a variety of podcasts and discussions are considered along with the reading of classic texts to give students a varied approach to this interesting course.

COURSE DETAILS

Paper 1: Ancient philosophical influences based on the ideas of Plato and Aristotle and their application to questions about our knowledge and understanding of reality and our existence including:

• Arguments based on reason
• Arguments based on Observation
• The Problem of evil and suffering and responses to this with references to the ideas of the Greek Philosopher Epicurus and Atheist Philosopher J.L. Mackie.

Paper 2: Moral Philosophy with a focus on Normative Ethical theories which allows you to examine what it means to be a good person and whether good is objective or subjective. We will also apply these theories to contemporary moral issues and include:

• Natural Law and Situation ethics
• Kantian ethics and Utilitarianism
• Business ethics, sexual ethics and Euthanasia
• Conscience with links to ideas of Aquinas and Sigmund Freud

Paper 3: Development in Christian theology with applications to social and political issues including:

• Human nature
• Gender issues
• The life and work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer who plotted to kill Hitler.
• Pluralism
• Secularism
• Liberation theology and Marxism

Skills: Philosophy and Ethics also gives students opportunities to think and write critically; to discuss and debate their perspectives convincingly. Many find that it increases their confidence and ambition to participate in current affairs.

Students explore:

• Religious beliefs, values and teachings, their interconnections and how they vary historically and in the contemporary world
• Sources of religious wisdom and authority
• Practices which shape and express religious identity, and how these vary within a tradition
• Significant social and historical developments in theology and religious thought
• Key themes related to the relationship between religion and society
   

KEY STAGE 5 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The minimum entry requirements for Charters Sixth Form can be viewed here

EXAM BOARD: OCR

BE INSPIRED

Take a look around the links below to find our where this exciting subject could lead.