VCE Units 3 & 4 - Philosophy
VCE Units 3 & 4 - 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 3 – Minds, Bodies and Persons
Are human beings more than their bodies? Is there a basis for the belief that an individual remains the same person over time? Students critically compare the viewpoints and arguments put forward in philosophical sources to their own views on these questions and to contemporary debates.
Areas of Study
- Minds and bodies – Examine concepts relating to the mind and body and analyse, compare, and evaluate arguments concerning the relationship between minds and bodies.
- Personal Identity – Explore and analyse viewpoints and arguments on personal identity and the implications they have for personal responsibility.
Unit 4 – The Good Life
This unit considers the crucial question of what it is for a human to live well. What is the role of happiness in a life well lived? Is morality central to a good life? In this unit, students explore philosophical texts that have had a significant impact on western ideas about the good life. Students critically compare the viewpoints and arguments in set texts to their views on how we should live.
Areas of Study
- Conceptions of the good life – Philosophical concepts, debates and perspectives on the nature of the good life through a study of philosophical texts.
- Living the good life in the twenty-first century – Develop and justify responses to debates on technological development in relation to the good life. Outline arguments made in a variety of sources and critically respond to them. Explore the interplay between the changing conditions of contemporary life and our ability to live a good life.
Forms of Assessment
- Essay
- Written Analysis
- Short Answer Responses
Prerequisites and Corequisites
There are no prerequisites for entry to VCE Philosophy. Units 3 & 4 must be taken as a sequence.