Product Description

AQA Philosophy is the only set of resources to have been developed with, and exclusively endorsed by, AQA, making them the first choice to support the new AQA specification for AS and A2. With a range of truly blended resources, AQA Philosophy offers complete coverage and support through a variety of printed and electronic media. By working closely with AQA , Nelson Thornes have produced resources that will give students and teachers all they need to work through the specification with complete confidence.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47074 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

A poor choice for course material
This book certainly is best avoided, it provides no definite framework for units and seems to constantly be leapfrogging around. The writers seem to have forgotten that they are writing and AS level textbook and don't provide clear points of argument, criticms and responses - key to the as level examination. Instead of writing a textbook, it would appear as if they were trying to create their own philosophical masterpiece and because of this have lost sight of what they're doing. Without a real focus the units, this book loses any real purpose beyond perhaps getting a vague idea of the units for the course.

uninspiring and unengaging
I agree with previous reviewers who express disappointment in this textbook. As a teacher of A level philosophy for 17 years I struggled to find coherence in the Reason and Experience chapter. It is a dull text, reductionist and lacks any sense of the excitement of the power of ideas. It presents a packaged tour of past masters and ideas without engaging the reader in critical debate. Students do not use this text even when they have purchased it. Students prefer Cardinal et al, and Lacewing texts. I supplement with John Hospers 'An introduction to Philosophical Analysis.

Disappointing for an AQA endorsed text book
The AQA endorsed text book for the new AS Philosophy specification is, quite frankly, a disappointment. Much has been made of Nelson Thornes' partnership with AQA in producing new resources for their AS and A2 specifications, especially given the senior examiners that have worked on it.

Unlike the alternative Philosophy in Focus AS textbook, this does include all of the 10 themes across the two units. However, the book lacks the detail and clarity that characterise the aforementioned alternative book. Key terms and concepts aren't always explained, the implications of examples from philosophers aren't always drawn out and some of the chapters are frustrating in their layout, jumping backwards and forwards between related concepts, rather than progressing logically and in a linear fashion. Furthermore, the planned accompanying electronic resources aren't yet available, despite teaching of the new specification beginning at the start of this academic year.

I feel sorry for those students that have purchased the book or are having to use it, due to a lack of viable available alternatives at the start of this term. My students are having to use it as the Philosophy in Focus text book does not cover all of the units they are studying, such as Tolerance and Why Should I Be Governed? However if, as a student or a teacher, your topics are covered by the Philosophy in Focus book or Michael Lacewing's AS Philosophy text book, I'd buy one of them instead.