1. Preparation for A2
Philosophy
Your useful guide to the skills needed
to succeed in Unit 3 of the A2 exam

2. What’s new for A2?
MKE unit to be
sat in June
2013.
No compulsory
question.
Questions in
similar style to
AS unit.

3. What units are we going to study?

6. Derren Brown – The
Experiments
Derren Brown returns with The
Experiments - a brand new four-part
series. Each stand-alone episode asks
and answers a single
question, featuring the inventive and
jaw-dropping Derren Brown mixture
of stunts, suggestions and thought-
provoking entertainment. These
elements are combined with tried
and tested psychological experiments
to illustrate how easily our behaviour
can be manipulated.
1. The Assassin
2. The Gameshow
3. The Guilt trip
4. The Secret of Luck
As we watch each episode try to think
how this is linked to Philosophy and how
this can help us next year.

7. So what is a debate?
A debate involves a discussion of the pros and cons of an
issue. Debating successfully is all about using argument and
persuasion to convince other people that your views are
right.
1. Research: Research the subject, so that you have facts to
back up your views. It helps to validate your answer so it
becomes more than just your opinion.
2. Logic: Use logic to develop your case and make your
points. Lead each point on from what you were previously
saying. That way you build up a story and expand your
answer.
3. Counter arguments: It's always good to be prepared so
consider the counter arguments in advance. That way the
other side can't catch you out and you're always
prepared.
4. Keep an open mind: Be open minded and prepared to
change your opinion if you the other side convinces you
your argument is flawed.
5. Don't get personal: In the heat of a debate it's easy to lose
your cool and attack the other person for having a
different opinion to you. But remember they're entitled to
that opinion and just because they don't think the same
as you it's not a bad thing.
6. Stay Focused: Stick to the subject being debated and
don't stray into other areas. It sounds obvious but it's easy
to do once you start debating.

8. The Proposition The Opposition
Speaker 1 – Must
Speaker 1 – Must
introduce the topic to
introduce the topic to
the audience and
the audience and
present the main
present the main
argument that supports
argument that is against
the motion
the motion
Speaker 2 – Must
Speaker 2 – Must
elaborate on the points
elaborate on the points
made by speaker 1 by
made by speaker 1 by
presenting two further
presenting two further
arguments against the
arguments for the
motion.
motion.
Evaluator – Must take
questions from the
Evaluator – Must take
audience and attempt
questions from the
to answer them. They
audience and attempt to
must then make a short
answer them. They must
summery of their key
then make a short
points.
summery of their key
points.

9. The Audience
Must research both topics and decide whether they
agree or disagree with the motion. They must then
compile five possible questions to ask both the
proposition and the opposition.
At the end of the debate the audience must decide
individually if their opinions changed or remained the
same as a result of the debate.
Chair Person
The proposition and the opposition must each have a
chair person. The chair person assists with the speech
writing and during the debate introduces each speaker
and is the time keeper. Each of the three speakers from
each team have 3 minutes to talk. It is the chair persons
job to clap twice at the end of each minute and clap
three times at the end of the three minutes. Speakers
will lose points if they go over three minutes.

10. What do you need to do?
• A motion will be given which each
team has to debate upon – your
team will either present arguments
from the proposition or from the
opposition.
• Each team will have THREE
members – speaker 1, speaker 2 and
the evaluator.
• Speaker 1 proposition.
• Speaker 1 opposition.
• Speaker 2 proposition.
• Speaker 2 opposition.
• Evaluator proposition.
• Evaluator opposition.
• Audience comments and vote.

11. Motion 1 - This House
believes that God exists
The question of God’s existence forms a fundamental part of
theology, philosophy, and life generally. Religion is one of the most
profound and pervasive institutions, appearing in virtually every
culture and in every time. Serious questioning of the existence of
God has only become part of common discourse in the past three
centuries, however, as state-sponsored religion and religious crimes
have faded from the Western world. Increasing scientific
knowledge has also led people to question belief in the existence of
God. Since there are many arguments on both sides of the debate
about God’s existence, it is necessary to limit the focus of this
discussion. This debate will therefore take place largely within the
parameters of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam), and will focus on the arguments for and against the
Abrahamic conception of God.
Show less
http://idebate.org/debatabase/debates/philosophical-political-
theory/house-believes-god-exists

12. Motion 2 - This house believes
that Anarchism is a valuable
political ideology
Anarchism is an ideology that believes that the state is an
undesirable and unnecessary. Whilst a 'descent into anarchy' can
be used in modern language to describe a decline towards a state
of chaos, anarchists believe that a stateless society would be a
much better place to live; they point to anarchist communes like
Freetown Christiania in Copenhagen as places of peace and
contentment free from the state.
There are two ways to define this debate and I have tried to
include both of them on this page, firstly one can talk about how
anarchy is a worthwhile goal in and of its self and how a stateless
world would be superior to the one we live in. Secondly it is
possible to argue that Anarchism provides an essential voice in a
world where people are much too keen to listen to and do exactly
what the state tells them.
http://idebate.org/debatabase/debates/philosophical-political-
theory/house-believes-anarchism-valuable-political-ideology

13. Motion 3 -This house would
make voting compulsory
In many countries around the world individuals are free to
choose to vote or not to vote, while in other countries
(Australia, a couple cantons in Switzerland, Belgium and
Singapore , for example) it is compulsory for citizens to vote.
Punishment for non-voting can vary from a $15 fine to the
possible deprivation of government services or the freezing of
one's bank account. Is this a violation of an individual’s freedom
of choice? With the citizens of many countries fighting for their
right to vote, is it right that US voting turnout hovers around 50 –
60%of registered voters 1? Should voting be seen as a duty or a
right? This debate explores whether compulsory voting improves
voter participation, increases voter awareness on key political
issues, and reduces the powers of special interest groups.
http://idebate.org/debatabase/debates/philosophical-
political-theory/house-would-make-voting-compulsory

14. Reading for the summer

15. Reading for the summer

16. Reading for the summer