Philosophy

Languages, Latin, Philosophy, and RMPS Faculty

If you’ve ever wondered whether the world is real or a simulation; whether God exists; or what it is that makes a particular action right or wrong — then you’ve thought philosophically!

Philosophy is the study of fundamental questions about the nature of ourselves and the world we live in. These questions are wide-ranging, but what is common to all areas of philosophy is a passionate and thorough attempt to answer these questions - pupils will examine such answers and be challenged to provide their own!

This course affords pupils the opportunity to develop and extend a wide range of skills which are transferable to the world of work, as well as to other areas of study.

In particular, it helps pupils to:

Sharpen their analysis skills, by interpreting abstract concepts and problems.
Challenge assumptions by applying different philosophical positions and theories.
Express reasoned opinions in the style of philosophical arguments.
Evaluate the underlying logic of viewpoints.

At Lanark Grammar, we teach Higher Philosophy to S5/S6 pupils.

Assessment

To gain the award of this course, pupils must pass a final exam. The course assessment will consist of two question papers (which are set and marked by the SQA, and which will assess the skills, knowledge, and understanding demanded by the topic areas).

Question Paper 1

Paper 1 has two sections that sample from the Knowledge and Doubt and Moral Philosophy areas of study.

Specifically, candidates will produce an essay on René Descartes or David Hume — candidates will also produce an essay in which they apply a moral theory to a given situation, or else respond to a quotation.

Question Paper 2

Paper 2 has three sections. Each section samples from one of the three areas of study - with the majority of questions on Arguments in Action. This paper will involve candidates answering individual questions, each with a mark range of 1-6.

Ideal Candidate

We welcome all S5 and S6 pupils. Pupils who have already achieved a National 5 English or Humanities qualification, and who are working towards Highers, will already have the transferable skills useful for this course.

What you will learn

There are three compulsory units for the Higher Philosophy:

Arguments in Action
Knowledge and Doubt
Moral Philosophy

Arguments in Action

This section of the course develops candidates’ ability to analyse and evaluate arguments. This involves developing skills in critical thinking and logic. Learners will study the structure, validity, and soundness of arguments, and will be taught how to identify errors in reasoning and how to utilise philosophical techniques.

Knowledge and Doubt

In this section of the course, pupils will learn about epistemology — a branch of philosophy that considers what knowledge is and whether we can ever truly have definite knowledge about things. The philosophers René Descartes and David Hume are studied.

Candidates will be able to describe, explain, and evaluate two rival epistemologies. By the end of this section, pupils will have opinions on whether the senses are reliable tools for obtaining knowledge; whether it is ever possible to know the future; and whether the world, itself, is real!

Moral Philosophy

This unit involves pupils thinking about the competing ethical theories of Utilitarianism and Kantianism — both of which offer opposing ideas as to how to determine the correct moral action in any given situation.

Candidates will be able to describe, explain, and evaluate these differing moral philosophies. By the end of this section, pupils will have opinions on whether the consequences of actions are what make them right or wrong; whether you require a mind to be moral; and whether the needs of the many can ever outweigh the needs of the few!

Future Pathways

University or College

There are many courses for which Philosophy would be a valuable asset:

Law
Medicine
Social Work
Psychology
Politics
Education
Health Care
Journalism
Philosophy
Arts/Humanities/Social Sciences

Careers

Teacher / Lecturer
Social Work
Law
Journalism
Criminal Justice
National and Local Government
Charity, voluntary and non-profit organisations
NHS
PR, Advertising, Sales and Marketing
Counselling
Youth Worker

Did you know?

Universities and employers recognise the value of people who know how to ask the right questions; analyse issues from many points of view; and assess pros and cons.

The significant criticality that Philosophy involves ideally positions pupils for various pathways, due to the problem-solving skills that they will hone in this subject.