Philosophy

Course Structure

SL and HL

Prerequisites:

Nil

Exclusions:

Nil

The IB Philosophy course provides an opportunity for students to engage with questions, ideas and thinkers with respect to fundamental questions about reality, knowledge and values. The course develops highly transferable skills such as the ability to formulate arguments clearly, to make reasoned judgements and to evaluate highly complex and multifaceted issues. The emphasis of the DP philosophy course is on “doing philosophy”, that is, on actively engaging students in philosophical activity. The course is focused on stimulating students’ intellectual curiosity and encouraging them to examine both their own perspectives and those of others.

Students are challenged to develop their own philosophical voice and to grow into independent thinkers. They develop their skills through the study of philosophical themes and the close reading of a philosophical text. They also learn to apply their philosophical knowledge and skills to real-life situations and to explore how non-philosophical material can be treated in a philosophical way. All students complete the core theme “Being Human”, an optional theme, a close reading of a single text and an IA on an issue of their choosing. HL students complete one additional optional theme and complete a unit examining the relationship between philosophy and contemporary issues.

Coursework

Assessment