At Wilderness, Philosophy is not merely an excavation of old or esoteric ideas and theories. Instead, the subject encourages students to critically engage with contemporary issues and apply pre-existing concepts in new and interesting ways. This approach allows students to navigate a world of ChatGPT, deep fakes and social media, which have forced us to re-evaluate our moral commitments.

In the Ethics unit of Year 9 Philosophy, students recently explored the popular and influential philosophical position known as 'longtermism'. This view has gained traction on Twitter and is endorsed by controversial figures such as Elon Musk and Nick Bostrom. Oxford philosopher and longtermist William MacAskill defines longtermism as “the view that positively influencing the long-term future is a key moral priority of our time” (MacAskill, 2022). Exploring longtermism has allowed students to join the discussion around this provocative position, investigating its merits and shortcomings and considering differing perspectives. This exploration also invites students to engage with pressing issues such as climate change, artificial intelligence (AI) safety and global pandemics, which are key concerns for longtermists.

At Wilderness, students can undertake Stage 1 and 2 Philosophy as part of their SACE in Years 10 and 11. Students develop critical thinking tools to evaluate and construct logical arguments. With these skills, they tackle topics in epistemology, ethics and metaphysics, engaging with philosophers' arguments and defending their positions on issues such as our knowledge of the external world, the ethics of abortion and whether AI could one day be conscious. At the end of the year, students complete an Issues Study, selecting a philosophical issue they are interested in and exploring it through an in-depth investigation of philosophers' positions, while presenting their own stance.

Philosophy is an enduringly relevant subject. It cultivates socially and politically responsible citizens who can critically participate in ongoing discussions. Philosophy's generality enables the transfer of knowledge and skills to other subject areas, as seen in activities like writing argumentative essays in English or contemplating the moral status of historical events such as the bombings of Japan at the end of the Second World War. Additionally, Philosophy is not just practical; it can also provide insight into humanity's most difficult questions, including: What does it mean to be a good person? What makes my life meaningful? What should I hope for?

Reference: MacAskill, W. (2022). What We Owe The Future. Basic Books, New York.