Philosophy for A2:
Philosophical Problems
About the Book
Philosophy for A2: Philosophical Problems covers the new AQA Advanced level syllabus for philosophy from 2008. Structured very closely around the AQA specifications for Unit 4: Philosophical Problems, it introduces the student to each of the five key texts studied closely in this Unit:
- Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
- Plato's The Republic
- Mill's On Liberty
- Descartes' Meditations
- Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil
All chapters are helpfully subdivided into short digestible passages, and include:
- comprehension questions to test core knowledge
- discussion questions to deepen understanding
- ‘going further’ sections for advanced study
- cross-references to help students make connections
- helpful summaries and a glossary.
In addition, a chapter on exam preparation contains a wealth of helpful hints and tips on revision and exam techniques. Written by an experienced philosopher and A level consultant, Philosophy for A2: Philosophical Problems is an essential companion for all students of A2 level philosophy.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Plato, The Republic
- Appearance and reality: the Forms
- Knowledge and virtue: the Philosopher King
- Political rule: justice and democracy
- Descartes, Meditations
- Certainty: doubt, deception and the cogito
- Mind and body: dualism and rationalism
- God
- Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
- Empiricism: psychology, knowledge, miracles
- Cause and effect: conjunction and necessity
- Free will
- Mill, On Liberty
- Freedom of the individual: liberty, harm and the state
- Individual development: truth, individuality, utility
- Democracy: tyranny of the majority, applications
- Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil
- Scope of philosophy: language, the new philosophy
- Nature of morality: slave morality, the will to power, value
- Religious belief: analysis, prospects
- Preparing for the exam
- Revision
- Exam technique
- Glossary
- Index