Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations
Grade 11 Philosophy.
This Grade 11 Philosophy course introduces students to the fundamental questions of human existence, knowledge, ethics, and society. Students will develop critical thinking and philosophical reasoning skills by exploring historical and contemporary philosophical thought. The curriculum aligns with the Ontario HZB3M framework, encouraging deep inquiry into the big questions of life.
01Philosophical Foundations and Human Nature
Students explore the nature of philosophical inquiry and examine various perspectives on what it means to be human. This unit introduces foundational logic and the mind-body problem.
Students explore the nature of philosophical questions and the basic tools of logic and reasoning. They learn to distinguish philosophical inquiry from other academic disciplines.
This topic examines various philosophical views on what it means to be human, including biological, psychological, and existential perspectives. Students evaluate theories of human motivation and purpose.
Students investigate the relationship between the physical brain and the conscious mind. They analyze dualism, materialism, and other theories of consciousness.
02Epistemology and the Nature of Knowledge
This unit delves into the theory of knowledge, exploring how we define truth and justify our beliefs. Students contrast rationalist and empiricist approaches to understanding the world.
Students delve into the definition of knowledge as justified true belief and explore the criteria for truth. They examine how different cultures and eras have defined what is true.
This topic contrasts the rationalist view that knowledge comes from reason with the empiricist view that knowledge comes from sensory experience. Students analyze key thinkers like Descartes and Locke.
Students explore philosophical skepticism and the limits of human knowledge. They evaluate arguments that question whether we can truly know anything about the external world.
03Ethics and Moral Philosophy
Students investigate the foundations of moral values and major normative ethical theories. They apply these frameworks to contemporary moral dilemmas.
Students investigate the origins of moral values and the distinction between objective and subjective morality. They explore how culture, religion, and reason shape ethical frameworks.
This topic introduces major ethical theories, including utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Students apply these theories to hypothetical moral dilemmas.
Students apply ethical theories to contemporary social issues such as environmental ethics, bioethics, and technology. They develop reasoned arguments for their moral positions.
04Social and Political Philosophy
This unit examines the justification for the state, the nature of justice, and the balance between individual rights and societal needs. Students analyze social contract theories.
Students examine the justification for the existence of the state and the nature of political authority. They explore different forms of government and the concept of sovereignty.
This topic explores the concepts of distributive justice, human rights, and social equality. Students analyze how societies should distribute resources and protect individual liberties.
Students investigate social contract theory through the works of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. They evaluate the implicit agreements between citizens and the state.
05Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art
Students explore the philosophical definition of beauty and the criteria used to evaluate art. They examine the intersection of art, morality, and society.
Students explore the philosophical definition of beauty and whether it is an objective property or a subjective experience. They examine how aesthetic judgments are formed.
This topic investigates the criteria used to define art and the role of the artist's intention. Students analyze controversial works to test the boundaries of what constitutes art.
Students examine the relationship between art, ethics, and society, including issues of censorship and the social responsibility of artists. They debate whether art should be judged on moral grounds.