Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations
Grade 12 Philosophy.
This Grade 12 Philosophy course enables students to acquire an understanding of the nature of philosophy and philosophical reasoning skills. Students will explore branches of philosophy including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and social and political philosophy, applying these concepts to contemporary Canadian and global issues.
01Philosophical Foundations and Logic
Students are introduced to the fundamental nature of philosophical inquiry and the formal structures of logical reasoning.
Students explore the origins of philosophical thought and the fundamental questions that drive human curiosity. They will differentiate between philosophical and non-philosophical inquiries.
This topic introduces the formal structures of logic, focusing on how to construct and evaluate deductive and inductive arguments. Students will learn to identify valid and sound reasoning.
Students examine common formal and informal logical fallacies found in media, politics, and everyday discourse. They will practice deconstructing flawed arguments to improve their critical thinking.
02Metaphysics: The Nature of Reality
Students investigate fundamental metaphysical concepts, including existence, the mind-body problem, and the debate between free will and determinism.
Students investigate fundamental metaphysical concepts such as ontology, materialism, and idealism. They will analyze how different philosophers define what it means to exist.
This topic explores the relationship between consciousness and the physical brain, as well as the criteria for personhood. Students will debate the implications of artificial intelligence on our understanding of the self.
Students analyze the debate between free will, determinism, and compatibilism. They will evaluate how these theories impact our understanding of human agency and moral responsibility.
03Epistemology: The Theory of Knowledge
Students explore how we acquire knowledge, the justification of beliefs, and the limits of human understanding.
Students compare the two primary epistemological schools of thought regarding the source of human knowledge. They will study key thinkers like Descartes, Locke, and Hume.
This topic delves into the traditional definition of knowledge as justified true belief and examines Gettier problems. Students will explore different theories of truth, including correspondence and coherence.
Students explore philosophical skepticism and the arguments that challenge our ability to know anything with certainty. They will evaluate the practical implications of radical skepticism.
04Ethics: Moral Philosophy
Students examine major normative ethical theories and apply them to contemporary moral dilemmas and metaethical questions.
Students examine major normative theories, including utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. They will apply these frameworks to determine the morality of various actions.
This topic challenges students to apply ethical theories to modern dilemmas such as bioethics, environmental ethics, and technology. They will construct reasoned arguments for specific moral positions.
Students investigate the nature of ethical statements and whether objective moral truths exist. They will debate the merits and criticisms of moral relativism and moral absolutism.
05Social and Political Philosophy
Students analyze the origins of political authority, concepts of justice, and the moral responsibilities of citizens within a state.
Students explore the origins and justification of political authority through the lens of social contract theorists like Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. They will analyze the balance between individual liberty and state power.
This topic examines different conceptions of distributive justice, human rights, and equality. Students will evaluate theories from philosophers such as John Rawls and Robert Nozick.
Students analyze the philosophical justifications for civil disobedience and rebellion against unjust laws. They will study historical examples to understand the moral duty of citizens in a democracy.