the state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, thoughts and surroundings

both physical and non-physical things exist, the mind or consciousness is non-physical and separate from the body

everything that exists is physical, including the mind or consciousness

a French philosopher who lived from 1596–1650 and who built his philosophy by doubting everything except his own thinking

Consciousness: are we just brains in a vat?

Religious education

Self: what makes us who we are?

Sentience and animal consciousness

Indigenous worldviews and personhood

Reflection: Is a river alive?

Pupils will consider what it is that makes a person who they are by examining religious and philsophical explanations for self and conciousness. Next, they will examine the idea of sentience in animals before evauating whether non-human objects of nature, such as rivers, can be said to be alive.

Personhood: what does it mean to be alive?

Physical illness or injury, medical procedures, blood.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

a French philosopher who lived from 1596–1650

both physical and non-physical things exist

everything that exists is physical, including the mind

Descartes used the evil demon hypothesis to create extreme...

Humans might exist without a real external world

What is the main idea of Hilary Putnam’s 'brain in a vat' scenario?

Dualists believe that the mind and body are {{}} things.

Mental states are identical to brain states

Many Western thinkers see the self as {{}} and continuous.

Which concept describes the Buddhist idea of 'no fixed self'?

Buddhists believe the self is made of five changing...

Hume compared perceptions to actors on a...

Which traditional idea does Baggini reject?

Consciousness: are we just brains in a vat?

Lesson outcome

Content guidance