IB Philosophy HL – Complete Course Guide and Study Tips

What Kind of Student Does It Suit?

• Field interests——Students interested in philosophy, law, politics, psychology and related fields.
• Abstract thinking——Students who are good at abstract thinking and enjoy exploring fundamental questions such as truth and morality.
• Ambitious applicants——Students planning to apply to top courses such as Oxford PPE, Cambridge HSPS or Harvard Philosophy.

Core Theme: Humans and the World

All students must study the following questions:

• Epistemology——How do we acquire knowledge? Rationalism vs empiricism.
• Metaphysics——What is the nature of reality? Does free will exist?
• Ethics——What is the basis of moral judgement? Utilitarianism vs Kantian ethics.

Optional Themes (choose 2)

The IB offers various optional directions, for example:

• Political philosophy——social contract theory, theories of justice
• Aesthetics——the nature and value of art
• Philosophy of religion——arguments for the existence of God
• Ethics of technology——the moral status of AI

HL Extension (HL students only)

• In-depth study——Study one philosopher’s theory in depth (such as Heidegger’s existentialism or Foucault’s theory of power).
• Comparative traditions——Compare different philosophical traditions (such as Daoist wu wei vs Nietzsche’s philosophy of the Overman).

How to Prepare for Papers 1–3

• Paper 1——Be familiar with core theories (such as Descartes’ scepticism and Hume’s critique of causation) and practise structured writing (argument + counter-argument + response).
• Paper 2——Choose the optional themes you are strongest in and prepare 3–4 adaptable philosophical case studies in advance.
• Paper 3——Focus on the HL extension and compare the views of different philosophers (such as Sartre vs Camus on “human nature”).

Internal Assessment (IA) Tips

• Choose a non-philosophical text (such as a novel, film or news article) for philosophical analysis.
• Example topics:
  • “Totalitarianism and free will in 1984”
  • “Technological alienation in Black Mirror”

Extended Essay (EE) Topic Advice

• Avoid overly broad topics (such as “On Justice”); be specific (such as “A comparison of Rawls’ and Nozick’s theories of justice”).
• Common themes in high-scoring EEs:
  • AI ethics – “The moral algorithm of self-driving cars: utilitarianism vs deontology”
  • Existentialism – “An analysis of ‘Hell is other people’ in Sartre’s Being and Nothingness”

Read Classic Philosophical Works

• Introductory——Philosophy: The Basics (Nigel Warburton)
• Advanced——A Theory of Justice (John Rawls) and Being and Time (Heidegger)

Practise Philosophical Writing

• Use PEEL——the Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link structure.
• Be precise——Avoid vague expression; define terms precisely (for example, does “utilitarianism” refer to Bentham’s or Mill’s version?).

Take Part in Debates and Seminars

• Impromptu argumentation——practise through philosophy societies or Model United Nations.
• Watch Oxford Union debates——to learn how to rebut opposing views.

University Application Advantages

• Top universities (such as Oxford, Cambridge and the Ivy League) value the critical-thinking training of Philosophy HL highly.
• Well suited to applying for:
  • Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
  • Law, psychology and sociology

Career Directions

• Academia——philosophy professor or researcher
• Law——solicitor or barrister (logic and argumentation are crucial)
• Technology——AI ethics consultant or policy analyst