VCE Units 1 & 2 - Philosophy
VCE Units 1 & 2 - Philosophy
Overview
VCE Philosophy contains a broad introduction to western philosophy and its methods of inquiry. It explores themes and debates within metaphysics, epistemology (philosophy of knowledge) and value theory, as well as techniques of reasoning and argument drawn from formal and informal logic. It investigates human nature through questions about the relationship between body and mind, and personal identity, leading to an examination of the good life.
Unit 1 – Existence, Knowledge, and Reasoning
What is the nature of reality? How can we acquire certain knowledge? This unit engages students with fundamental philosophical questions through active, guided investigation and critical discussion of two key areas of philosophy: epistemology and metaphysics.
Areas of Study:
- Metaphysics – Analyse metaphysical problems and evaluate viewpoints and arguments arising from these and identify metaphysical problems in relevant contemporary debates.
- Epistemology – Analyse problems of knowledge and evaluate viewpoints and arguments arising from these and analyse epistemological problems in the context of relevant contemporary debates.
- Introduction to philosophical inquiry – Practise some basics of informal logic and other techniques of philosophical reasoning. Explore cognitive biases and consider any implications for approaching problems in epistemology and metaphysics.
Unit 2 – Questions of Value
What are the foundations of our judgments about value? How, if at all, can moral judgments be defended or criticised? This unit enables students to explore these questions in relation to different categories of value judgment (morality, politics, and aesthetics).
Areas of Study:
- Ethics and moral philosophy – What should I do? What is right? Discovering if there are basic principles and underlying ideas of morality and assessing ethical viewpoints and arguments according to standards of logic and consistency.
- Further problems in value theory – What is art? What is beauty? Are there such things as human rights? Introduction to some of these questions and the ways in which philosophers have addressed them.
- Techniques of philosophical inquiry – Develop abilities to analyse and evaluate philosophical viewpoints and arguments using logic. Examine and apply a range of reasoning techniques and consider the role of other factors involved in philosophical thinking such as emotion.
Forms of Assessment
Essay, Written Analysis, Short Answer Responses
Prerequisites and Corequisites
There are no prerequisites for entry to VCE Philosophy