Philosophy for A2: Unit 4: Philosophical Problems

Philosophy for A2: Unit 4 is the definitive textbook for students of the current AQA Advanced Level syllabus for philosophy. Structured very closely around the AQA specifications for Unit 4: Philosophical Problems, Michael Lacewing helps students to engage with and understand the arguments of the five key texts:

Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
Plato's The Republic
Mill's On Liberty
Descartes' Meditations
Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil.
All chapters are helpfully subdivided into short digestible passages, and include:

quiz questions to test core knowledge
discussion questions to deepen understanding
'going further' sections for advanced study
text boxes highlighting key definitions and arguments
cross-references to help students make connections.
In addition, a chapter on exam preparation contains a wealth of helpful hints and tips on revision and exam techniques.
Written by an experienced philosopher and A Level consultant, Philosophy for A2: Unit 4 is an essential companion for all students of A2 Level philosophy.

Michael Lacewing is Director of Research and Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Heythrop College, University of London. He is founder of the company A Level Philosophy, and a consultant on philosophy at A Level for the British Philosophical Association.

Introduction

Ch. 1 Hume’s An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding
I. Empiricism
II. Cause and effect
III. Free will


Ch. 2 Plato’s The Republic
I. Appearance and reality
II. Knowledge and Virtue
III. Political rule


Ch. 3 Mill’s On Liberty
I. Democracy
II. Freedom of the individual (I)
III. Freedom of the individual (II) and Individual development
IV. Applications


Ch. 4 Descartes’ Meditations
I. Certainty
II. Mind and body
III. God

Ch. 5 Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil
I. Scope of philosophy
II. Nature of morality
III. Religious belief


Ch. 6 Preparing for the exam
Glossary