IB Philosophy SL Course Guide: Key Features and Learning Strategies

1. Course Positioning and Key Features

IB Philosophy SL (Standard Level) is an introductory philosophy course in the IB curriculum. It focuses on developing the following skills:

• Foundational philosophical reasoning
• Understanding classical theories (ethics, epistemology, etc.)
• Cross-cultural philosophical perspectives
• Critical writing skills

1.1 Advantages of the SL Course

• Coursework volume is 40% less than HL (Higher Level)
• Only 6 core texts to study (HL requires 10)
• No requirement for the HL extended essay
• More suitable for beginners in philosophy

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2. Course Structure (2025 New System)

Core Unit	Learning Focus	Classic Topics Examples
Existence and Knowledge	Basics of epistemology	Analysis of “Plato’s Allegory of the Cave”
Ethics and Values	Introduction to moral philosophy	Utilitarianism vs Kantian ethics
Society and Politics	Theory of justice	Rawls’ “Veil of Ignorance” concept
Optional Unit	In-depth study of one topic	Topics could include: Tech Ethics, Aesthetics Philosophy

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3. Assessment Criteria and Evaluation

3.1 External Assessment (75%)

Paper	Duration	Question Type	Exam Techniques
Paper 1	1 hour	Textual analysis (2 out of 1)	Master the “Claim-Argument-Counterexample” structure
Paper 2	1 hour	Issue discussion (4 out of 1)	Prepare 3-4 versatile philosophical case studies

3.2 Internal Assessment (25%)

• Philosophical Inquiry Report (1,600-2,000 words):
  • Analyze a specific philosophical issue
  • Reference at least 2 philosophers’ viewpoints

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4. Key Differences Between SL and HL

Dimension	SL	HL
Text Depth	Basic theoretical understanding	Application of philosophical history
Writing Requirement	Short essays (800 words/essay)	Long essays (1,200 words/essay)
Issue Complexity	Concrete problem discussions	Abstract concept analysis
Class Time	150 hours	240 hours

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5. Effective Learning Strategies

5.1 Philosophical Argumentation Techniques

• Toulmin Model application: mermaid複製編輯graph LR A[Claim] --> B[Evidence] A --> C[Backing] A --> D[Qualifier]

5.2 Textual Analysis Methods

• Three-tier Reading Method:
  1. Literal Understanding (What is the author saying?)
  2. Logical Reconstruction (How is the argument made?)
  3. Critical Evaluation (Is the argument effective?)

5.3 Inquiry Report Topic Suggestions

• Recommended Topics:
  • “Does social media weaken rational discourse?”
  • “Does artificial intelligence have moral standing?”

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6. Essential Readings and Resources

Philosophy Area	Introductory Reading	Key Learning Focus
Epistemology	40 Philosophy Lessons	Comparison of theories of truth
Ethics	Justice: A Journey of Reflection	Frameworks for moral decision-making
Political Philosophy	The Social Contract (Selected Chapters)	Legitimacy of government
Contemporary Issues	Ethics of Technology	Privacy concerns in data usage

6.1 Digital Tools

• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Online)
• Philosophy Tube (YouTube Channel)
• MindNode (Mind Mapping Software)

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7. Common Challenges and Solutions

7.1 Difficulty Understanding Abstract Concepts

Solution: Use concrete examples to explain abstract ideas (e.g., explaining Kant’s Duty Ethics using the example of “exam cheating”).

7.2 Weak Argumentation

Solution: Train with counterexample exercises:

1. Write out an argument.
2. Create three possible counterexamples.
3. Strengthen the defense of the argument.

7.3 Clumsy Text Citation

Solution: Use the “Sandwich Citation” method:

1. Introduce the background.
2. Present the citation.
3. Explain how the citation links to your argument.

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8. University and Career Applications

8.1 Advantages for University Applications

• Extra points for humanities and social science programs
• Particularly beneficial for:
  • Law pre-college programs
  • Public Policy majors
  • Psychology programs

8.2 Career Development

• Policy Analyst
• Business Ethics Consultant
• Non-profit Researcher

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9. Study Progress Plan

Phase	Core Task	Evaluation Criteria
1st Semester	Master basic philosophical terminology	Build a glossary of 100+ terms
2nd Semester	Develop argumentation writing skills	Complete 2 short essays per week
3rd Semester	Strengthen issue analysis skills	Compare 3 ethical theories
Pre-Exam	Mock exam practice	Meet time limits (45 minutes per question)

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10. Key Traits for High Scores

10.1 Must-Have Skills for a Score of 7

• Ability to identify implicit premises in arguments
• Demonstrate cross-theoretical perspective
• Provide original reflections

10.2 What to Avoid

• Over-reliance on common-sense viewpoints
• Ignoring opposing arguments
• Inaccurate use of terminology

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Actionable Advice

1. Form a 3-person debate group (one topic per week)
2. Subscribe to the Philosophy Egg blog
3. Use Anki to create flashcards for philosophical concepts

Extended Resources

• NTU Open Course: Introduction to Philosophy
• Cambridge Philosophy Guide series
• Official IB Examiner Templates

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Note: All information is for reference only. For detailed course information, please visit the official International Baccalaureate website at www.ibo.org.
This draft was generated by AI and edited by Professor Guo Wei Chen. Responsible Editor: Eric Kong