Year 10 Subject Guide 2020

Structure Semester 1

Semester 2

Unit One: Morality and Heroes Philosophers use reasoning to develop different (normative) ethical theories to decide on the right way for people think and behave when dealing with moral problems. In this unit students analyse the extent to which the ethical theories represented in the graphic novel Watchmen can help people solve moral dilemmas. Unit Two: Government on Mars Power relationships affect the behaviour of individuals, societies and nations. Societies face complex problems involving personal rights, political rights and economic factors. In this unit students must explain and justify the form of government and society for a (futuristic) colony on Mars.

Unit Three: Philosophy of Science Understanding the differences between science and non- science leads to different perspectives on the evolution of scientific theories, metaphysics and the concept of truth. In this unit students explore the meaning of truth in science and the consequences for Mankind, as represented in the film Interstellar .

Unit Four: Introduction to Formal Logic

In Philosophy, argument is the logical interconnection of evidence (premises) given in support of a conclusion. Logicians have developed a number of methods to test the validity of arguments. In this unit, students will translate natural language arguments to propositional language and test the argument’s validity and truth.

Assessment In Year 10 Philosophy students complete four summative assessments. Summative assessments Semester 1

Criteria Assessed

Criteria Assessed

Semester 2

Examination – Introduction to Philosophy

A,C,D

Examination – Philosophy of Science

A,C,D

Assignment – Ethics of Watchmen

A,B,C,D

Assignment – Analysis of Interstellar

A,B,C,D

Assignment – Government on Mars

A,B,C,D

Examination – Introduction to Logic

A,C,D

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