Hello, Future IB Philosophers!
Welcome to the HL Extension: Philosophy and Contemporary Issues! This is perhaps the most exciting part of the Philosophy course because it’s where we take all those heavy theories—Plato, Kant, Mill—and throw them straight into the headlines of today’s world.
If you sometimes wonder, "But what is philosophy actually for?", this chapter is your answer. You will learn how to apply deep philosophical thinking to urgent, complex problems like AI, climate change, social inequality, and digital ethics.
This section is compulsory for all HL students and is assessed via Paper 3, which focuses entirely on your ability to analyze an unseen philosophical text discussing a contemporary issue. Let's make sure you have the critical toolkit ready!
(Quick Note: This extension relies heavily on your deep understanding of Assessment Objectives 1, 2, and 3, especially the parts that require HL students to demonstrate understanding and analysis of the nature, function, meaning, and methodology of philosophical activity.)
1. Understanding the Scope: What is a "Contemporary Issue"?
A contemporary issue is a current, complex, and often controversial problem facing society that is not easily solved by scientific fact or political action alone. These issues always involve fundamental questions about value, knowledge, and reality.
Philosophical Analysis vs. Other Analysis:
When analyzing a contemporary issue, a philosopher doesn't just look at the facts (that’s sociology or science); they look at the underlying concepts and assumptions.
- Example: When discussing the rise of autonomous vehicles (self-driving cars):
- Engineer: How safe is the algorithm? (Technical facts)
- Politician: Should we regulate the industry? (Policy actions)
- Philosopher: In an unavoidable crash, who is the algorithm programmed to save? A 50-year-old pedestrian or the 20-year-old driver? Is the concept of "responsibility" still valid when there is no human driver? (Conceptual analysis of ethics and responsibility)
Key Takeaway: The focus is always on the concepts—what do we mean by justice, fairness, rights, or autonomy in this modern context?
2. The HL Philosophical Toolkit: Analyzing Nature, Function, and Methodology
The IB demands that HL students analyze the core components of philosophy itself when engaging with these issues. This is your "meta-philosophical" lens.
A. The Nature and Meaning of Philosophical Activity
This addresses the question: What fundamentally distinguishes philosophy from other subjects?
Philosophy is defined by its commitment to critical inquiry, relying on reason and logical argumentation rather than empirical data or authority. Its meaning is often found in the pursuit of conceptual clarity and truth.
- Nature: Philosophy deals with conceptual questions that lack definitive empirical answers (e.g., What is a 'right'?).
- Meaning: Providing rational justification for beliefs and evaluating the coherence of our conceptual frameworks.
B. The Function of Philosophical Activity
This addresses the question: What practical role does philosophy play in society and solving problems?
The functions of philosophy in contemporary issues are primarily:
- Conceptual Clarification: Defining vague terms that muddy debate (e.g., defining "intelligence" when discussing AI, or "personhood" when discussing bioethics).
- Critique of Assumptions: Identifying and challenging hidden biases or unsupported beliefs underlying public discourse (e.g., questioning the assumption that all technological progress is inherently good).
- Construction of Arguments: Developing clear, logically coherent arguments for specific moral or political positions (e.g., constructing a utilitarian or deontological argument for climate policy).
Did you know? Many contemporary philosophers now work directly with governments, tech companies, and hospitals as "ethicists" precisely because of philosophy's function in clarification and critique!
C. The Methodology of Philosophical Activity
This addresses the question: What tools and techniques do philosophers use to engage with issues?
When analyzing a contemporary text, look for these techniques:
1. Conceptual Analysis
Breaking down a concept into its necessary and sufficient conditions. This is the cornerstone of philosophical method.
Example: If a debate is about "free speech" online, a philosopher analyzes: What exactly constitutes "speech"? Is hate speech included? Is censorship ever justified, and what concept of "harm" legitimizes it?
2. Thought Experiments
Hypothetical scenarios designed to test moral or conceptual intuitions and the limits of theories.
Example: The Trolley Problem is often adapted to modern issues like programming AI. It tests whether our moral rules (deontology) or outcomes (utilitarianism) should guide our actions.
3. Logical Argumentation
The use of deductive and inductive reasoning, identifying premises, conclusions, fallacies, and ensuring coherence.
Quick Review Box: The HL Skills Checklist
When reading a contemporary text, ask:
- NATURE: Is this argument conceptual or empirical?
- FUNCTION: Is the author clarifying concepts, critiquing assumptions, or constructing a new framework?
- METHODOLOGY: What tools are they using (conceptual analysis, thought experiments, logical rigor)?
3. Applying Philosophy: Lenses for Contemporary Issues
Contemporary issues rarely fall neatly into one philosophical category. They often require interdisciplinary application.
H4. Common Contemporary Issues and Their Philosophical Lenses
These issues serve as excellent material for Paper 3, as they force us to rethink traditional concepts.
Issue 1: Digital Ethics, Privacy, and Surveillance
This touches on Political Philosophy, Ethics, and Epistemology.
- Key Concepts: Liberty, autonomy, rights (what are digital rights?), informed consent, power (Foucault’s theories on surveillance).
- Philosophical Question: Does the collection of metadata violate fundamental human rights, even if that data is used to "keep us safe"? (Tension between Utilitarianism and Rights-based Ethics).
Issue 2: Climate Change and Intergenerational Justice
This is primarily an ethical and political problem.
- Key Concepts: Justice (how do we define justice between people who live at different times?), obligation, responsibility (to the non-human world).
- Philosophical Question: Do we have a moral obligation to future generations to limit consumption now, even if they cannot reciprocate or consent? How does this relate to Kant's idea of treating others as ends, not means?
Issue 3: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Humanity
This often combines Ethics with the Core Theme: Being Human.
- Key Concepts: Consciousness, personhood, intelligence, creativity, work (what gives human life meaning?).
- Philosophical Question: If an AI can perfectly mimic human reasoning and emotion (like Descartes’s concept of the mind), does it deserve moral consideration? Is true creativity possible without biological experience?
Analogy for Understanding Application:
Imagine philosophy is a powerful magnifying glass. A contemporary issue is a complex spiderweb. You don't burn the web; you use the magnifying glass to isolate a single, crucial knot (a concept like "responsibility" or "justice") and analyze how that knot is failing under the modern tension.
4. Excelling in Paper 3: Analyzing the Unseen Text
Paper 3 requires you to engage with an 800-word unseen philosophical text about a contemporary issue. Your task is not just to summarize the argument, but to demonstrate your high-level skills (AO1-AO4).
H4. Step-by-Step Analysis Strategy
Step 1: First Read (The Big Picture)
Read quickly to grasp the main contemporary issue and the author's central claim (conclusion).
Ask: What modern problem is being addressed? What is the author ultimately trying to convince me of?
Step 2: Second Read (Structure and Argument)
Identify the author’s premises (reasons) and supporting evidence. Look for the methodology being used.
- Highlight: Key definitions, philosophical terms (e.g., utility, maxim, inherent value), and any thought experiments.
- Structure: Break the text down—Paragraph 1 introduces the problem; Paragraph 2 defines the key term; Paragraph 3 applies Theory X; Paragraph 4 offers a critique.
Step 3: Evaluation (HL Application of Nature/Function/Methodology)
This is where you earn your HL marks. Evaluate the philosophical activity demonstrated by the author.
Example Evaluation Questions:
- How successful is the author’s conceptual clarification of [Concept X]? (Function)
- Does the argument rely on a valid logical structure, or does it commit a fallacy? (Methodology)
- To what extent does the author successfully critique the fundamental assumptions of the contemporary debate? (Function)
- Is the argument based on sound reasoning, demonstrating the expected nature of philosophical activity, or does it rely too heavily on emotional appeals or empirical speculation?
H4. Common Mistakes to Avoid in Paper 3
- Mistake 1: Treating it as a history paper. Do not spend time detailing historical philosophical theories unless the author explicitly references them. Focus on the author’s argument and method.
- Mistake 2: Summarizing instead of analyzing. Simply explaining what the author said is low level. You must evaluate the *strength* and *coherence* of their philosophical engagement.
- Mistake 3: Getting distracted by the issue itself. If the text is about climate change, your essay is not about environmental policy; it’s about the quality of the *philosophical argument* presented in the text regarding intergenerational obligation.
Key Takeaway: The HL extension is your chance to show the IB that you can move beyond memorizing theories and truly think like a working philosopher, applying critical rigor to the messiness of the 21st century.