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What is A-Level Philosophy like?

What’s the difference between that and the religious study A-level?

The religious studies A-level contains a lot of similarities with Philosophy. They both involve arguments for and against the existence of God. They both involve ethical theories and meta-ethics (the question of what goodness actually is)

However religious studies involves learning about a religion and the theology of that religion as well as its relevance in society. Philosophy doesn't have that.

Philosophy also involves studying things like epistemology - the theory of how to define knowledge, and the Philosophy of Mind - what the nature of the mind is - whether it's just our physical brain or something else. Religious studies talks about those things a tiny bit but not much.

Also, the style of the philosophy A level requires students to perform a higher level of philosophical skill and has very particular and difficulty essay writing requirements, because it is 100% focused on philosophy.

Whereas the religious studies A level is more like getting good skills in a wide array of abilities, not just focused on the skill of philosophical analysis but also an understanding of psychology, sociology and theology.

Reply 2

Rosariri

Original post by naomi11_10

What’s the difference between that and the religious study A-level?

Hi I do philosophy AS right now and our teacher told us that we will be doing the famous question "does God exist?" next year. Although philosophy does touch on religion, that is just one topic.
Right now we are doing epistemology and moral philosophy. Epistemology is about the way we see the world? Is the world real? Moral philosophy talks about happiness and what is defined as good or bad. We don't bring religion in to everything, we just look at philosophers arguments.

My friend does RS a level and she said so far they have studied Islam. And they look at topics like abortion and see what different religions would think about it.

Whereas some philosophers are religious, the ones that are not give they're view on stuff like abortion too.

Philosophy is questioning a lot of things, not just religion. It can question science, the law, the mind and religion!

RS studies religion and applies it to all the topics that you study.