Philosophy, Religion and Ethics

Why Study This Subject?

The A Level course at Greenhead College covers three main areas of study: Philosophy of Religion, Ethics and Buddhism. Many of our students go on to study Philosophy-related courses at top universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

Do you enjoy thinking about life’s big questions? For instance:

Ethics: What is the nature of good? What does it mean to live a good life? How do we decide what is right on issues such as euthanasia in medical ethics, human rights and sexual ethics, e.g. what is the purpose of sex?
Metaphysics: What is the nature of reality? Does God exist? If there is a God, why does He allow so much evil and suffering? Do humans have free will? Is the mind independent of the body? Is there life after death?
Epistemology: What is knowledge, and what distinguishes it from mere belief or opinion? E.g. how do we know that our ideas about what is morally good are true? What is truth?
Language: How is it that language expresses meaning? How is it that language comes to refer to the world? Is it possible to use language to talk about God?
Politics and Law: How should society be organised? What is justice? What are ‘rights’?
Science: What is science, and how does it challenge religious belief?

If you have an enquiring mind, enjoy philosophical debate and are interested in what some of the world’s greatest thinkers, scientists and religions have to say, then this is definitely the right subject for you!

The course includes educational visits to Philosophy and Ethics conferences, places of Buddhist interest, as well as a residential trip to London. In the last two years, popular speakers in the field of Philosophy, such as Dr Peter Vardy and Dr Stephen Law, have visited the College and delivered revision conferences for our students.

Further Study

The A Level in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics is a valuable entry qualification for post-18 education and a wide range of higher education opportunities.

Universities welcome students with a qualification in this area onto a variety of courses in the humanities, arts and sciences, as well as specific courses in Philosophy, Religious Studies, Comparative Religions, Theology and other related disciplines, such as History, English, Politics and PPE. It is also relevant to courses including Medicine, Dentistry and Law, and even joint honours degrees such as Physics and Philosophy.

A level Course Compatibility and Degrees

Philosophy, Religion and Ethics works well alongside subjects in the arts, sciences and social sciences. Universities, including Oxbridge, welcome students with a qualification in this area onto a variety of courses, including Philosophy, Religious Studies, History, English, Theology, Politics and Economics (PPE), as well as Medicine, Dentistry and Law, and joint science degrees such as Physics and Philosophy.

Careers

In the world of work, this is an excellent subject to take because it develops employability skills that all employers seek: research and problem-solving skills, self-management and teamwork skills, and communication skills.

Understanding the beliefs and values of others is useful in a wide range of careers involving working with people, such as a doctor, solicitor, dentist, social worker, police officer, nurse, local government worker or human resources manager. It is also valuable in careers requiring specialist knowledge, such as teaching, journalism, television and the media, museum work or librarianship, as well as careers in business, including marketing, advertising, public relations and architecture.

Topics You Will Cover

This course follows the OCR specification.

Students are assessed at the end of Year 13 by examination only. Topics include:

1. Philosophy of Religion:

Plato, Aristotle and early philosophical thought on the nature of the soul and existence.
Arguments for the existence or non-existence of God, including challenges from science.
The nature and influence of religious experience, and ideas about the nature of God.
Challenges to religious belief, such as the problem of evil and suffering.
Language and how it is applied to God and religion.

2. Ethics:

The meaning of ethical language.
The study of ethical theories including Natural Law, Kant’s deontological ethics, Utilitarianism, Situation Ethics and Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics.
The application of these theories to practical ethical issues, particularly medical ethics, human rights, sexual ethics and business ethics.

3. Buddhism:

The life of the Buddha and the influences on his teaching and practice.
Philosophical beliefs, values and teachings, including the meaning and purpose of life, ethics, the nature of reality, the self, life after death, nirvana and meditation.
Sources of wisdom and authority, including texts and how they are used, key teachers and their teachings.
Practices that shape and express religious identity, including the diversity of practice within a tradition.

Entry Guidelines

Grade 5 in any of the following subjects: English Literature, English Language, History or Religious Studies. To study this subject at A Level, you do not need to have studied it at GCSE.