Philosophy Intermediate level

The study area IM (Intermediate) Philosophy is informed by the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).

Since the time of the ancient Greeks, philosophy has developed into a discipline which asks fundamental questions about all areas of human activity, while seeking to offer plausible answers to such questions. Past philosophers lived in particular historical and cultural circumstances, but their questions and answers have inspired many views of how human beings understand, interpret and change themselves and the reality around them. 

At Intermediate Level, Philosophy gives students the opportunity to develop constructive thinking skills. It invites them to explore how Philosophy relates to and complements other subjects such as the Sciences, Languages, Psychology, Sociology, History, Art and Literature, Law and Politics, Religion, Computing, Marketing and Communications. Through the presentation of historical, theoretical and practical considerations, this syllabus is designed to illustrate how the contribution of philosophy lies precisely in giving meaning to how people, as individual persons and societies, live these different realities. Studying Philosophy strengthens the development of a deeper, critical reflection on practical issues in everyday life. 

At the end of the programme, the student will be able to: 

• define/describe the main problems raised by the philosophers presented and their tentative answers
• deal confidently with structured questions concerning logic
• identify the philosophical, existential and ethical concerns of the topics presented and their continued relevance
• present well-structured and logically sound arguments in essay form
• show a thorough knowledge of the content covered and take a critical stance where necessary