Outline notes, suitable for AS/A2 students, are available on the following:

• Plato and the Forms

• Free Will and Determinism

• Language

• Aristotle and the soul

just click on the 'Notes' link above to see the pdf files

 

 

When it comes to philosophy, clarity is (almost) everything. Being able to grasp and express an idea in a straightforward and intelligible way is an essential skill to develop. There are books that can help with this...

 

Routledge have recently published new editions of two of Nigel Warburton's popular books: The Basics of Essay Writing and Thinking from A to Z. These, along with his Essential Study Guide are extremely useful for students seeking to sharpen up their technique. Further information on these books is available on the Amazon site, and you can 'search inside' the Essential Study Guide to give you more of an idea of its style and content.

For those new to Philosophy and wanting to get to grips with the basics of presenting an argument, Nigel Warburton's Thinking from A to Z might be just the thing.

Some introductory texts for philosophy, particularly suitable for those doing A level:

And for classic readings in philosophy:

 

And for the Philosophy of Art...

Here is the Amazon description of Nigel Warbutron's book on art:

'What is art?' is a question many of us want answered but are too afraid to ask. It is the very question that Nigel Warburton demystifies in this brilliant and accessible little book. With the help of varied illustrations and photographs, from Cézanne and Francis Bacon to Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst, best-selling author Warburton brings a philosopher's eye to art in a refreshing jargon-free style. With customary clarity, he explains art theories, that are much discussed but little understood, by thinkers such as Clive Bell, R.G Collingwood and Wittgenstein. He illuminates other perplexing problems in art, such as the artist's intention, representation and emotion. Drawing on photographs of Cindy Sherman and Tiananmen Square, Warburton shows that, if we are ever to answer the art question, we must consider each work of art on its own terms. A stimulating and handy guide through the art maze, The Art Question is essential reading for anyone interested in art, philosophy or those who simply like looking at and thinking about pictures.

Nigel regularly gives courses on the Philosophy of Art at Tate Modern in London.

There are sections on The Philosophy of Art (by Andrew Harrison), Artistic Modernism (by Martin Bentham) and Art and Eastern Philosophy (by Ann Whiteside) in World Philosophy.

There are a huge number of ideas to explore within this subject, from the nature and function of art itself, including its social and political impact, through to the problems of expression and representation, to the whole idea of giving visible form to concepts. In many ways, the place of art in society mirrors that of philosophy - both are valid ways of exploring and sharing a fundamental interest in the meaning of human life and its place within the world.

 

A good starting point for anyone coming new to the Theory of Knowledge, or studying it for A level is Peter Cole's book in Hodder's Access to Philosophy series.

To get into the challenge of philosophy and to enjoy the perceptions of a sharp mind and good humour, there are few better places to go than the work of David Hume - his Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, is one of the great works of Scottish philosophy.