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Philosophy

INTRODUCTION

The candidate is encouraged to engage in serious, personal thought and to develop and explore in a disciplined and imaginative way a specific and philosophical question appropriate to the subject, and to arrive at a clear solution.

CHOICE OF TOPIC

The topic may be stimulated, for example, by work in the class, by current events, by issues of contempory debate, by discussion, by private reading and/or reflection, or by conceptual beliefs not previously encountered by the candidate. It is preferable to choose as a starting point a specific thesis rather than a general one, or certain of the ideas of one philosopher rather than several, or a single text by a philosopher rather than the whole of his or her work. A topic should be reconsidered if it is interdisciplinary in nature, and/or is not directly related to philosophy.

The following examples are intended as guidance only.

An analysis of John Rawl's procedure of justifying principles of social justice is better than Philosophical views of social justice.

A study of the Sense-datum theory is better than Perception.

A critical analysis of the materialist conception of history in The German Ideology is better than Dialetical materialism.

Doing versus being: language and reality in the Mimamsa school of Indian Philosophy is better than Mahayana Buddhism.

TREATMENT OF THE TOPIC

Clarity, coherence of ideas and attention to detail are necessay conditions of an effective treatment of a philosophical topic in an Extended Essay. Lucid understanding of the problem(s) should be demonstrated, and proposed solutions should be logical and well-structured. Counter claims/objections should be envisaged, addressed, and if possible, rebutted. While irrelevance must be avoided, the wider implications of the philosophical issues raised should be explored to an appropriate degree, and an awareness should be evident of the connections between such issues and more universal concerns of human life. The argument should be cogent, rational, and economical in expression, and should be supported by relevant, and if possible, original examples. Diagrams may also be an effective means of illustrating salient points.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

J To what extent does the candidate satisfactorily identify the philosophical issues arising out of the chosen topic?

Achievement Level

0 The philosophical issues are omitted entirely.

1 The philosophical issues are just adequately defined.

2 The philosophical issues are precisely defined.

3 The philosophical issues are thoroughly and precisely defined.

K To what extent does the candidate show philosophical insight in approaching the relevant problem(s)?

Achievement Level

0 In approaching the relevant problem(s) the candidate shows no insight at all.

1 In approaching the relevant problem(s) the candidate shows adequate insight in some instances.

2 In approaching the relevant problem(s) the candidate shows adequate insight in most instances.

3 In approaching the relevant problem(s) the candidate shows profound insight throughout.

L To what extent does the candidate use appropriate philosophical language in the treatment of the topic?

Achievement Level

0 The language used in the treatment of the topic is not appropriately philosophical at all.

1 The language used in the treatment of the topic is appropriately philosophical in some instances.

2 The language used in the treatment of the topic is appropriately philosophical in most instances.

3 The language used in the treatment of the topic is appropriately philosophical throughout.

M To what extent does the candidate justify philosophical views and successfully defend them against pertinent objections?

Achievement Level

0 The candidate's philosophical views are not justified at all.

1 The candidate's philosophical views are justified in a few instances. Pertinent objections are not addressed

2 The candidate's philosophical views are justified in most instances. Pertinent objections are addressed

3 The candidate's philosophical views are convincingly justified throughout. Pertinent objections are convincingly rebutted.

IB Homepage Extended Essay Homepage General guidelines General grading criteria Subject grading criteria

J	To what extent does the candidate satisfactorily identify the philosophical issues arising out of the chosen topic?
Achievement Level
0	The philosophical issues are omitted entirely.
1	The philosophical issues are just adequately defined.
2	The philosophical issues are precisely defined.
3	The philosophical issues are thoroughly and precisely defined.

K	To what extent does the candidate show philosophical insight in approaching the relevant problem(s)?
Achievement Level
0	In approaching the relevant problem(s) the candidate shows no insight at all.
1	In approaching the relevant problem(s) the candidate shows adequate insight in some instances.
2	In approaching the relevant problem(s) the candidate shows adequate insight in most instances.
3	In approaching the relevant problem(s) the candidate shows profound insight throughout.

L	To what extent does the candidate use appropriate philosophical language in the treatment of the topic?
Achievement Level
0	The language used in the treatment of the topic is not appropriately philosophical at all.
1	The language used in the treatment of the topic is appropriately philosophical in some instances.
2	The language used in the treatment of the topic is appropriately philosophical in most instances.
3	The language used in the treatment of the topic is appropriately philosophical throughout.

M	To what extent does the candidate justify philosophical views and successfully defend them against pertinent objections?
Achievement Level
0	The candidate's philosophical views are not justified at all.
1	The candidate's philosophical views are justified in a few instances. Pertinent objections are not addressed
2	The candidate's philosophical views are justified in most instances. Pertinent objections are addressed
3	The candidate's philosophical views are convincingly justified throughout. Pertinent objections are convincingly rebutted.