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IB Philosophy Being Human Course Book: Oxford IB Diploma Program
Developed directly with the IB, dedicated assessment support straight from the IB builds confidence, and student samples drive critical thought on constructing strong responses. The most comprehensive coverage of the core content Being Human , this course book will help learners grasp complex philosophical ideas and develop crucial thinking skills
· The most comprehensive coverage of the core content Being Human , developed directly with the IB
· Engage learners in the course, with excerpts from a range of philosophers spurring critical discussion
· Help students understand exam achievement levels and progress attainment with clear student samples
· Assessment support straight from the IB cements assessment potential
· Support all learning styles and simplify complex philosophical ideas using clear visuals and illustrations
· Reinforce all key ideas with integrated activities helping extend and deepen understanding
About the
IB Diploma Course Books are essential resource materials designed in cooperation with the IB to provide students with extra support through their IB studies. Course Books provide advice and guidance on specific course assessment requirements, mirroring the IB philosophy and providing opportunities for critical thinking.
· The most comprehensive coverage of the core content Being Human , developed directly with the IB
· Engage learners in the course, with excerpts from a range of philosophers spurring critical discussion
· Help students understand exam achievement levels and progress attainment with clear student samples
· Assessment support straight from the IB cements assessment potential
· Support all learning styles and simplify complex philosophical ideas using clear visuals and illustrations
· Reinforce all key ideas with integrated activities helping extend and deepen understanding
About the
IB Diploma Course Books are essential resource materials designed in cooperation with the IB to provide students with extra support through their IB studies. Course Books provide advice and guidance on specific course assessment requirements, mirroring the IB philosophy and providing opportunities for critical thinking.
- GenresPhilosophy
416 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 9, 2025
While it says on the cover "updated for" 2023, it was originally written in 2014, and the updates do not seem to recognise world-changing developments in AI and robotics, which should be really key in this curriculum (and what students have a keen interest in) which includes study of philosophy of mind and consciousness, sentience, personhood, speciesism etc. These technologies are mentioned, but as speculative theory, not acknowledging today's new realities which have arrived (and were here in 2023 in the form of ChatGPT 3.5. ChatGPT launched 2022).
There are anachronistic sentences like "we can very well see that machines are not, in fact, conscious. Of course it is possible to believe that some machines will, one day, acquire a form of consciousness but it is clear they haven't yet" (p79) [in fact, that assertion is not clear at all, with former AI executives calling that very statement into serious question; it is at least definitely a healthy debate for a Sixth Form student of philosophy to engage in on the IB as we prepare them for the future].
Or, another example: "natural language processing in computers has only got as far as Apple's Siri and that isn't all that far" (p64) [ ...? This quote fundamentally misrepresents the current state of NLP and seems to pre-date LLMs altogether. And it talks of the Deep Blue Chess Match of 1997 but not DeepMind's AlphaGO win of 2016 (seismic shift documented in the famous Netflix doc of 2017). ]
I think we may need an update please Oxford & IB! I also think that in the mean time the price of the book should probably be reduced a tad to recognise the outdated viewpoints. This is important because educators prepare students for the future, and this aspect is not even reflecting the present, but the past.
Otherwise though this is such a thrilling course and it is nice to have support materials available, even if they need to be updated. Thank you in advance 🙏
There are anachronistic sentences like "we can very well see that machines are not, in fact, conscious. Of course it is possible to believe that some machines will, one day, acquire a form of consciousness but it is clear they haven't yet" (p79) [in fact, that assertion is not clear at all, with former AI executives calling that very statement into serious question; it is at least definitely a healthy debate for a Sixth Form student of philosophy to engage in on the IB as we prepare them for the future].
Or, another example: "natural language processing in computers has only got as far as Apple's Siri and that isn't all that far" (p64) [ ...? This quote fundamentally misrepresents the current state of NLP and seems to pre-date LLMs altogether. And it talks of the Deep Blue Chess Match of 1997 but not DeepMind's AlphaGO win of 2016 (seismic shift documented in the famous Netflix doc of 2017). ]
I think we may need an update please Oxford & IB! I also think that in the mean time the price of the book should probably be reduced a tad to recognise the outdated viewpoints. This is important because educators prepare students for the future, and this aspect is not even reflecting the present, but the past.
Otherwise though this is such a thrilling course and it is nice to have support materials available, even if they need to be updated. Thank you in advance 🙏
October 29, 2015
A Fantastic course companion, accompanied by very balanced arguments and brilliant examples.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews