Optional theme 4: Philosophy in Contemporary Society

This theme provides an opportunity for students to explore some of the most pressing issues facing society in the 21st century. It invites philosophical discussion of questions such as the following.

• Why is culture so hard to define?

• Are cultures distinct or are they always overlapping and interacting?

• Is censorship of information justifiable?

• What is the impact of technology on society?

• Is technology a tool used by society, or does technology shape society?

It is important to note that the questions raised by this theme should be explored in an explicitly philosophical, rather than sociological or anthropological, way.

The first topic for study is multiculturalism. This topic provides a space for discussions of cultural and religious diversity in contemporary society, as well as questions about whether tolerance of different groups in society is the same as seeing everyone as equal citizens. The second topic is liberty and rights, allowing for the exploration of issues such as censorship. The third topic is technology and media, which explores the role that technology plays in contemporary society, focusing particularly on the extent to which technology is a tool used by society, or something that shapes society. It also explores the impact of the media on contemporary life.

This theme lends itself to a wide variety of perspectives. For example, the treatment of marginalized groups in society can raise questions about the significance of gender in contemporary society, or controversies about affirmative action. Discussions of the treatment of marginalized groups in society could also lead particularly well into more general discussions about the dominance of particular paradigms or cultures and the marginalization of particular perspectives.

Links to the core theme

This theme provides scope for interesting links to the core theme, particularly in relation to culture and identity. For example, discussions of the treatment of minority or marginalized groups in society would provide an excellent opportunity for discussions of cultural identity. Links could also, for example, be made between the concept of liberty and the concept of freedom in the core theme, or through discussions of the impact of technologies such as social networking on identity, for example, Dreyfus’ claim that the internet “frees people to develop new and exciting selves” (2004).

Links to TOK

This theme also links to TOK, particularly in terms of culture and shared knowledge. There is scope to explore whether it is possible to have knowledge of a culture or a society in which we have not been raised, and whether there exists a neutral position from which we can make judgments about competing claims from groups with different traditions and different interests.

Syllabus content