WHAT is the teaching approach?

The program teaches essential SII essay-writing skills from a philosophical perspective, and emphasises the importance of critically examining SII prompt stimuli, formulate sophisticated responses, and defend their reasoning. It is not concerned with rote-learning pre-existing philosophical works and ideas.

A philosophical approach in Section II involves employing reasoning, logic, and experience towards the formulation of a SII response. This approach is versatile in that essays are not needlessly formal or rigid, but rather flexible in how arguments and ideas are presented.

WHAT is philosophy?

As a rational field of inquiry, philosophy is the systematic exploration of the human condition. It is concerned with understanding the multifarious domains of human existence and experience, examining the meaning of reason, knowledge, values, society, mind, language, morality, and more. It is also a way of critical, reflective, and systematic thinking such that the individual deepens their understanding of the natural and abstract world, produces new knowledge, and derives meaning to their experiences.

WHY Philosophy in Section II?

Philosophy lends a wide and diverse field of knowledge and ideas to draw upon, especially when Task A deals with socio-cultural issues whilst Task B handles personal and social issues. A philosophical approach also aligns with the marking criteria of Section II, where it is the thought, content, organization, and expression of written pieces which will be assessed. Consequently, a philosophical approach to Section II will best position students to succeed in their studies.