Intro to Philosophy 

Introduction to Philosophy 

Subject Length: 1 semester

Subject Fee: No Fee

Philosophy is one of the oldest and broadest areas of learning that humanity has developed and explored: it is ‘the love of Wisdom.’ In this unit, students will be introduced to a range of profound thinkers and theories that have significantly influenced and shaped the world that we live in. We will discuss and explore big ideas and questions, some which remain unanswered and unanswerable, ‘How do we know what we know? What is the nature of reality? Do we freely make our choices? What is Human Will? There will also be a focus on students relating the ideas found in the texts to their lives in a modern world and generating questions focusing on life in the 21st century.

What is studied?

Student learning is based upon the following key knowledge and concepts:

• What is Philosophy?

• Metaphysics – What is the nature of reality?

• Epistemology – How do we know what we know?

• Inquiry research on key philosophical ideas and thinkers.

What type of work is done?

Within this subject student learning is developed and assessed through:

• Explicit teaching and class discussions;

• Comparative text analysis;

• Class presentations and notetaking;

• Group presentation/lesson;

• End of Unit Exam.

Future Pathways:
This subject naturally creates a pathway into VCE Philosophy, Units 1-4. Career paths related to Philosophy include journalism, marketing, education, data analysis, research consultancy, law, and psychology.