Shell Guide to the Curriculum 2024 2025

CORE SUBJECTS

Theology, Philosophy and Ethics

How much can animals think? Can artificial intelligence feel? Are war and torture ever morally justified? What is the relationship between religion and science? These are just some of the questions that you will explore whilst studying Theology, Philosophy and Ethics in the Shell year. You will be able to stand on the shoulders of giants, such as Descartes, Kant, Aristotle and Aquinas, to make informed judgements and to feed your curiosity.

In the Autumn Term, the sentience and sapience unit will help you to consider what it means to be human and how similar or different we are to animals and machines. The ethics and war unit will give you an understanding of the debate surrounding the morality of war and will let you consider how it is waged with modern technology such as drones. Finally, in a unit on religion and science, you will be able to think about whether these worldviews are in competition or harmony.

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GUIDE TO THE SHELL CURRICULUM 2024-2025