Course at a glance
Introduction
This Level 3 Diploma in Philosophy, is aimed at providing those of an enquiring mind a study of the widely acclaimed and foundational thinking that has shaped the conceptualisation of thinking, ethics, reasoning and much more over centuries. This course has been designed to enable learner to gain a thorough grounding in key philosophical concepts, themes, texts and techniques. In this course you will develop a range of transferable skills which can be applied far beyond the study of Philosophy.
The course is suitable for all learners who want to understand the fundamental basis for: reality; thinking; ethics; knowledge; mind; theosophy; values and reasons. We consider the impact of philosophers’ like: Descartes, Locke, Kant, and Russell among others.
Upon completion of each unit in the course the student will be provided with an assignment, based upon short questions and answers or essay questions, to test the understanding of the course presented. This will enable the tutor to offer guidance and feedback to show how well the student has understood the content of each unit. The assignments don’t count toward the final grade as the course will be assessed by online examination.
Benefits of the Course:
Students will expect to derive the following benefits from the diploma course:
- To develop an understanding of reasoning and thinking
- To develop understanding of why we have ethics; values and morals.
- To treat the subject as a discipline that informs academic knowledge, understanding and skills for life.
- To teach students an enquiring, reflective and critical approach to the study of philosophical thought.
- To encourage students to reflect on their own thinking, the norms, perceptions, values and opinions in the light of their study.
Level 3 Philosophy Diploma Entry Requirements
All students must be 16 years of age and above to enrol onto our Level 3 Philosophy Diploma course.
Level 3 Diploma courses require a minimum prior learning to GCSE standard in order that students can manage their studies and the assumed knowledge within course content.
Course Hours
Approximately 20 hours per unit.
Assessment
Optional coursework and final examination.
Enrolment
Please note that you can enrol on this course at anytime.
Course Length
1 Year.
Endorsed By
Students at the college have the option to choose the awarding body of their course.
This course has been endorsed by :
Accord : https://accord.ac/
This course awarding body are recognised for their high-quality, non-regulated provision and training programmes. This course is not an accredited qualification. Your training provider will be able to advise you on any further recognition, for example progression routes into further and/or higher education. For further information please visit Accord website.
Course Content
Level 3 Philosophy Diploma Unit 1: Moral Philosophy
Why should we be moral? Is it always wrong to lie? Why should we be good?
This first unit examines the central traditional and contemporary disputes in moral philosophy. Often people consider themselves to be moral relativists, but is this view always defensible? Instead of looking at the consequences of our actions should we instead consider the motives as well?
Level 3 Philosophy Diploma Unit 2: Applied Ethics
Ethical issues are always in the news and in this unit we develop the philosophical skills needed to assess them. Here then we move away from the theoretical and apply what we have learned in unit 1 to some real-world issues.
In the second unit of the diploma we apply what we have learned from the first unit to animal ethics, environmental ethics, and the controversies surrounding the abortion debate.
Level 3 Philosophy Diploma Unit 3: Political Philosophy
In the third unit of the diploma we explore the idea of a ‘social contract’ and the extent to which we are obliged to obey the authorities in our society. Should we accept any amount of inequality so long as people have well-protected property rights? In this unit we also examine classical philosophical texts by Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, as well as valuable contemporary works by John Rawls and Robert Nozick. We also explore the idea of social justice and inequality.
Level 3 Philosophy Diploma Unit 4: Epistemology
What can we know? What is the basis of our belief in an external world? Can we be certain about anything? Is it possible that we are really nothing more than our own minds?
In the fourth unit of the diploma, we explore epistemology, or theories of knowledge. We consider the reliability of our perceptions and examine views of this important area of philosophy as presented by Descartes, Locke, Russell, Berkeley, and Kant. In this unit, we ask whether a mind-independent world really exists. We also examine the major contemporary contribution to epistemology made by John McDowell in his book Mind and World.
Level 3 Philosophy Diploma Unit 5: Philosophy of Mind
Are we composed of two, dual substances; mind and body? Or are we merely physical things?
In this unit, we explore several theories of Mind including mind-body dualism, the problem of other minds, and personal identity. In the fifth unit of the diploma in Philosophy, we explore issues relating to the Philosophy of Mind. By drawing on works of philosophers such as Descartes, Davidson, and Wittgenstein we consider whether it is possible to establish whether we can be sure that other people have minds. Are you the same person today that you were last year?
Level 3 Philosophy Diploma Unit 6: Metaphysics
In this sixth unit of the diploma, we explore two central themes in the philosophical area of metaphysics.
First, we look at the problem of universals. Can someone or something be said to possess universals such as bravery or goodness? Can individual inanimate objects possess universal attributes such as color or texture?
Secondly, we consider the idea of freedom of will. Do we appear to freely decide what to do at any given time? Are our plans and aspirations essentially futile? Is free will merely an illusion?
Level 3 Philosophy Diploma Unit 7: An Introduction to Logic
A large part of the philosopher’s task is to examine arguments. It can be important to have a grasp of an argument’s underlying logic in order to assess its merits. This unit will introduce you to some of the techniques logicians use to uncover the logic behind what people say.
Level 3 Philosophy Diploma Unit 8: Philosophy of Religion
In the eighth unit of this diploma, we explore questions such as ‘Does God exist?’, ‘Doesn’t the existence of natural disasters show that God is a myth?’ and ‘Is there life after death?’ As we consider these questions we will explore the arguments and views of philosophers such as Descartes, Kant, and Aquinas, to name a few.
Level 3 Philosophy Diploma Unit 9: Aesthetics
In the ninth unit of the diploma, we explore aesthetics. The debate on what constitutes art is an ongoing one. For some, art is a painting such as the Mona Lisa, for others it is an unmade bed. In this unit, we consider questions such as ‘What is the value of art?’ Is it simply a matter of personal taste or are there objective reasons for liking a painting, sculpture, or novel? Why are we as human beings predisposed to seek out inanimate objects that we find appealing? Should art be assessed according to its moral value or is art independent of morality?
Level 3 Philosophy Diploma Unit 10: Philosophy of History
Is history merely a series of events or does it have larger meaning? What causes historical change? Is it individuals or larger changes in social structure? In the final unit of the diploma, we draw on what we have learned in the earlier units in epistemology, metaphysics, and religion in order to explore what history is. In this unit, we will draw upon various arguments by Hegel, Marx, and others to explore this question.
Progression
This Level 3 Philosophy Diploma can be used to gain entry to a Level 4+5 Diploma or higher.
You can view a lit of our Level 4+5 Diplomas here: Accredited level 4+5 Diplomas
