Component 1: Philosophy of religion and ethics covers two main sections: Section A (Philosophy of religion) explores arguments for God's existence, the problem of evil, religious experience, religious language, miracles, and the nature of the soul/afterlife. Section B (Ethics and religion) examines normative ethical theories (Natural Moral Law, Situation Ethics, Virtue Ethics), meta-ethics, free will, moral responsibility, conscience, and the application of these theories to human and animal life/death issues.
Component 1 of AQA A-Level Religious Studies covers two distinct but interconnected areas: Philosophy of Religion and Ethics. In Philosophy of Religion, you will critically examine arguments for and against the existence of God, explore the nature of religious experience, and grapple with the problem of evil. This involves studying key philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Hume, and Kant, and evaluating their contributions to debates about the nature of reality, knowledge, and the divine. The ethics component introduces major normative theories—utilitarianism, situation ethics, natural law, and Kantian ethics—and applies them to contemporary moral issues such as euthanasia, business ethics, and sexual ethics. You will also explore meta-ethics and the relationship between religion and morality.
This component is central to the A-Level because it develops critical thinking, analytical writing, and the ability to construct and deconstruct arguments—skills valued in higher education and many careers. Understanding philosophy and ethics also helps you engage with fundamental questions about meaning, morality, and human existence. The two halves are linked: philosophical questions about God's existence often have ethical implications, and ethical theories can be informed by religious or secular worldviews. Mastery of this component requires not just memorising arguments but evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, and applying them to specific scenarios.
In the exam, you will answer two 3-hour papers (one for Philosophy, one for Ethics), each with three sections: compulsory short-answer questions, one essay from a choice of two on a set topic, and one essay from a choice of two on a different topic. The essays require you to demonstrate knowledge, analysis, and evaluation, with a clear line of argument. To succeed, you need to understand the nuances of each argument, use precise terminology, and engage with scholarly debates. This component builds on GCSE RS but demands a much deeper level of philosophical engagement.
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