Philosophy & Religious Education classes provide learning experiences that help shape our students’ character development. We explore Christian faith and values and a broad scope of philosophical views to build wisdom and motivation for ethical decision making. The curriculum explores Biblical themes and the most significant alternative positions so that our students will be equipped to engage respectfully with the people and issues that they will come across now and into the future.
Students explore issues around the Sanctity of Life, including the special position of humans in the world; a Biblical foundation for human responsibilities to other people and to the environment; and historical views on human rights. Students also look at responses to the question, “What is a Good Life?” They are encouraged to articulate their own provisional answer through assessing some influential ‘schools of thought’, including Hedonism, Existentialism, Stoicism, Virtuous Living (Eudaimonism), and Christianity.
The course structure emphasises engagement and participation with classroom discussions and activities, giving weight to students’ ability to thoughtfully reflect and to build on the ideas of other students.