Philosophy & Ethics*

A Level Religious Studies is an enlightening and fascinating subject choice. Not only will you develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of world religions, philosophy and ethics but you will also gain many valuable transferable skills along the way. The A Level syllabus combines the in-depth study of the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics with the study of Buddhism and the development of thought within it.

In the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics section, areas of study include the application of ethical theories to contemporary issues including abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment and embryonic research.

The philosophical element looks at a variety of fascinating topics, including the nature of the mind, body and soul, arguments for and against the existence of God, and the problem of evil.

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Subject specific entry requirement:	Standard Sixth Form entry Plus Grade 5 in GCSE RE/Philosophy & Ethics or Grade 6 in another Humanities subject
Qualification:	A Level
Topics and areas covered:	Year 12 Aquinas and the cosmological argument Plato and Aristotle philosophy – where does it all start? Aristotle’s virtue ethics Paley and the design argument Aquinas and natural law Anslem and the ontological argument Situation ethics An introduction to Buddhism Sources of wisdom and authority The Buddha and the Pali canon The problem of evil Good conduct and key moral principles Expressions of religious identity Religious experience Buddhism gender and sexuality The role of women in Buddhism Buddhism and science Year 13 Religious language Buddhism and the challenge of secularisation Miracles Meta ethics Free will and moral responsibility Life after death Conscience Bentham and Kant Dialogues Revision and dialogues
Future career path:	A level Religious Studies provides you with excellent transferable skills, from essay writing, developing confidence in debating, to developing the ability to appreciate other viewpoints. These skills can be incredibly helpful in a range of University degrees involving critical thinking and discussion e.g. Philosophy, Theology, Humanities, English, Psychology, law and lots more!
Examination information:	100% examination
Additional information:	Cannot be studied as an AS Level (4th choice).