Religious Studies

This course will examine the important question of whether humans have free will to make their own choices. Students will develop their evaluation and creative thinking, engage with scholarly writing, and hone their skills of logic and precision. The course will build confidence in presenting and defending an academic argument and allow students to enjoy the exploration of a fascinating and important issue. Although it does not appear on the A Level, this area of study will prepare students well for the style of reasoning, argument and investigation they will experience next year.

Lesson Outline:

Week 1: An introduction to philosophical reasoning and building confidence in presenting and defending an argument.

A philosopher’s toolkit will be introduced. The historical context of the free will debate, including how people have historically understood the mind, and famous examples of arguments about free will.

Week 2: Traditional and modern ideas about determinism

The idea that we only think we are free. This will include philosophy (John Locke), theology (Jean Calvin) and psychology (B. F. Skinner)

Week 3: Traditional and modern ideas about liberty

The idea that we are free to make our own decisions. This will include a study of the limits of human freedom, and how human consciousness could allow free choice.

Week 4: Preparation for and presentation of final outcome.

Project Outcome:

At each stage, students will complete a lesson review in which they: • Use the philosophical toolkit to examine the arguments of scholars • Refine, justify or change their thesis about human freedom

In the final week, students will produce one of the following: • A podcast, defending their thesis against opposing views • An essay, with a justified argument for their thesis