Course Description
Course Structure
SL and HL
Prerequisites:
Nil
Exclusions:
Nil
The IB Philosophy course provides an opportunity for students to engage with questions, ideas and thinkers with respect to fundamental questions about reality, knowledge and values. The course develops highly transferable skills such as the ability to formulate arguments clearly, to make reasoned judgements and to evaluate highly complex and multifaceted issues. The emphasis of the DP philosophy course is on “doing philosophy”, that is, on actively engaging students in philosophical activity. The course is focused on stimulating students’ intellectual curiosity and encouraging them to examine both their own perspectives and those of others.
Students are challenged to develop their own philosophical voice and to grow into independent thinkers. They develop their skills through the study of philosophical themes and the close reading of a philosophical text. They also learn to apply their philosophical knowledge and skills to real-life situations and to explore how non-philosophical material can be treated in a philosophical way. All students complete the core theme “Being Human”, an optional theme, a close reading of a single text and an IA on an issue of their choosing. HL students complete one additional optional theme and complete a unit examining the relationship between philosophy and contemporary issues.
Coursework
| Group 3: | Philosophy Standard Level | Philosophy Higher Level |
| Components | ||
| Core theme |
|
|
| Optional Themes | SL students are required to study one theme from the following list.
| HL students are required to study two themes from the following list.
|
| Prescribed Text | Students are required to study one text from the “IB list of prescribed philosophical texts” | Students are required to study one text from the “IB list of prescribed philosophical texts” |
| HL extension: Exploring philosophical activity | HL students are required to explore Philosophy and Contemporary Issues. | |
| Internal Assessment | SL and HL students are required to produce a philosophical analysis of a non-philosophical stimulus. | SL and HL students are required to produce a philosophical analysis of a non-philosophical stimulus. |
Assessment
HL (Higher Level)
| Component | Weighting | Format and Content | Time Allowed |
| Paper 1 | 40% | Extended analytical essay responses addressing core philosophical questions and themes studied in the course. Students construct and evaluate arguments using philosophical concepts and examples. | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Paper 2 | 20% | Philosophical analysis of an unseen text. Students explain, analyse, and critically evaluate arguments presented in the passage. | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Paper 3 | 20% | Advanced analysis of prescribed philosophical topics and concepts, requiring evaluative and comparative philosophical reasoning. (HL only) | 1 hour |
| Internal Assessment (IA) | 20% | A philosophical exploration based on a non‑philosophical stimulus (e.g. image, text, situation), demonstrating philosophical inquiry, argument development, and reflection. | Completed during course |
Assessment
SL (Standard Level)
| Component | Weighting | Format and Content | Time Allowed |
| Paper 1 | 40% | Analytical essay responses exploring core philosophical questions and themes, demonstrating understanding of concepts and argumentation. | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Paper 2 | 30% | Philosophical analysis of an unseen text, focusing on explanation, interpretation, and evaluation of arguments. | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Internal Assessment (IA) | 30% | A philosophical exploration based on a non‑philosophical stimulus, applying philosophical thinking to a real‑world context. | Completed during course |
