Philosophy stimulates critical thinking in students, assisting them to reflect on their role as active decision makers in society. The Philosophy course will develop student interest in key philosophical thinkers, problems and arguments. By applying this knowledge to social dilemmas through communities of inquiry, students challenge assumptions and beliefs and build their capacity for critical reasoning and ethical decision making.

Course structure

Students may undertake either 100 or 200 hours of study in Philosophy. Courses are structured in the following ways:

• a 100-hour course consisting of Core 1 and Core 2 and a minimum of three options
• a 200-hour course consisting of Core 1 and Core 2 and a minimum of five options.

Professional learning

• Complete the Department approved elective course – Philosophy microlearning (NR36609)
• Access recordings from statewide staffroom sessions via the Teaching and learning 7-12 statewide staffroom
  

Philosophy is concerned with questions of ethics, knowledge, aesthetics and reality. The course seeks to engage students in thinking about life’s big issues, such as the nature of reality, how we should live and what it means to be human.

Students engage in communities of inquiry style discussions to consider a range of issues and ideas, developing deep critical thinking skills and working collaboratively with peers.

Teachers may require time to upskill and build their knowledge in order to deliver the course.

In order to comply with the Curriculum planning and programming, assessing and reporting to parents K-12 Policy and associated policy standards, schools must use the course document to develop educational programs for students.

Scope and sequences are flexible documents and may vary according to local school contexts and student cohorts, provided they comply with the course documents.

Schools may choose to adapt or modify this content or use other materials suitable to their local context, provided they comply with the course documents.

Department approved elective courses are not eligible for credentialing on the Record of School Achievement (RoSA). Assessment activities should reflect the school's organisation of the course and provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their learning.