Philosophy (AQA)

"What great philosophers do for us is not to hand out such an all-purpose system. It is to light up and clarify some special aspect of life, to supply conceptual tools which will do a certain necessary kind of work. Wide though that area of work may be, it is never the whole, and all ideas lose their proper power when they are used out of their appropriate context. That is why one great philosopher does not necessarily displace another, why there is room for all of them and a great many more whom we do not have yet."

(Mary Midgley)

Philosophy, at its core, is the disciplined and critical exploration of such fundamental questions about reality, knowledge, values, and existence. Through careful reasoning, dialogue, and reflection, philosophy deepens our understanding of the world and ourselves. Students learn to challenge their own assumptions and to inhabit different perspectives, as well as acquiring the skills needed to develop, analyse, and articulate arguments. 

Can we ever know anything with certainty? What makes an action right or wrong? Is the mind just the brain, or something more? Does God exist, and if so, what is God like? These are just a few of the thought-provoking questions students will explore while undertaking the AQA Philosophy A Level, which offers a solid foundation in key areas of philosophy. In the first year, students focus on epistemology (the theory of knowledge) and moral philosophy, followed by an in-depth study of the metaphysics of God and the metaphysics of mind in the second year.

At HWSF, learning extends beyond the classroom and students can expect to engage with lectures from visiting speakers and debates in student-led societies, and to explore additional areas of philosophy such as the free will debate in our extracurricular ‘Cultural Perspectives’ classes.

Studying philosophy cultivates clarity of thought, logical precision, ethical insight, and intellectual humility—skills that are valuable not only in academic contexts but also in everyday life and a wide range of careers.

Below you can find the recommended textbooks:

• Michael Lacewing, Philosophy for AS and A level: Epistemology and Moral Philosophy, (Routledge, 2017)
• Michael Lacewing, Philosophy for AS and A level: Metaphysics of God and Metaphysics of Mind, (Routledge, 2017)
• Jeremy Hayward, Daniel Cardinal, Gerald Jones, My Revision Notes: AQA A Level Philosophy Paper 1 Epistemology and Moral Philosophy
• Jeremy Hayward, Daniel Cardinal, Gerald Jones, My Revision Notes: AQA A Level Philosophy Paper 2 Metaphysics of God and Metaphysics of Mind 

Please click here for further information on our Philosophy Curriculum.