Philosophy & Religion

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In our Philosophy and Religion lessons at Lingfield, students are given a safe environment in which to explore philosophical, ethical, religious and secular ideas, their own thoughts, and the arguments of others. Lessons are interactive, with students encouraged to take an active, rather than passive role. Lessons are also relevant. We delve into issues that impact on all of us, and which appear all around us in our everyday lives, in the media, and in the world we live in.

We believe in a questioning approach. We ask complex questions, and analyse and evaluate answers. We do not, however, teach the answer.

We set high standards of the students, and expect students to meet them. The material covered in Philosophy and Religion is intellectually challenging, but also interesting, and stimulating.

It teaches us about real life

Amy

Courses offered

GCSE Religious Studies

There are two halves to the course:

Component 1: The study of religions
Students study two religions: Christianity and Islam, with a focus on learning:

The beliefs, teachings and practices of the religion and their basis in sources of wisdom and authority
The influence of the beliefs, teachings and practices studied on individuals, communities and societies

Component 2: Thematic studies
Students learn about four religious, philosophical and ethical themes:

Theme A: Relationships and families
Theme B: Religion, Peace and Conflict
Theme C: Crime and Punishment
Theme D: Human Rights and Social Justice

exam specification

A Level Philosophy

A Level Philosophy involves the study of four units, two in Year 12 and two in Year 13.

Students will study extracts of differing lengths from a variety of philosophical texts, such as Hume’s Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason and Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics.

Students will also engage in a more in-depth study of Descartes’ Meditations.

Year 12:

Epistemology – The Theory of Knowledge

The definition of knowledge: What is propositional knowledge?
Perception as a source of knowledge: What are the immediate objects of perception?
Reason as a source of knowledge: Is knowledge that is purely rational possible?
The limits of knowledge: Are there things that cannot be known?

Moral Philosophy

Normative Ethical Theories: How do we decide what it is morally right to do?
Applied Ethics: Applying the ethical theories to specific issues such simulated killing
Meta-Ethics: What is the status of ethical language?

Year 13:

Metaphysics of God

The Concept of God: Who or What is God?
Arguments related to the existence of God: Arguments for and against the existence of God
Religious Language: Is it possible to speak meaningfully about God?

Metaphysics of Mind

What is the mind?
Dualism: Are the body and the soul or mind different sorts of thing?
Physicalism: Is the mind entirely physical (material)?

Mr Alexander Gaunt
Head of Philosophy & Religion