Maths
Chemistry
Biology
English Language
History
Responding to change (a2 only)
Infection and response
Homeostasis and response
Energy transfers (a2 only)
Cell biology
Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (a-level only)
Biological molecules
Organisation
Substance exchange
Bioenergetics
Genetic information & variation
Inheritance, variation and evolution
Genetics & ecosystems (a2 only)
Ecology
Cells
Show all topics
Britain & the wider world: 1745 -1901
1l the quest for political stability: germany, 1871-1991
The cold war
Inter-war germany
Medieval period: 1066 -1509
2d religious conflict and the church in england, c1529-c1570
2o democracy and nazism: germany, 1918-1945
1f industrialisation and the people: britain, c1783-1885
1c the tudors: england, 1485-1603
2m wars and welfare: britain in transition, 1906-1957
World war two & the holocaust
2n revolution and dictatorship: russia, 1917-1953
2s the making of modern britain, 1951-2007
World war one
Britain: 1509 -1745
Show all topics
Humanities
9 Dec 2025
51
5 pages
Rosalinda Lappay @rosalindalappay
Philosophy might seem intimidating, but it's actually the foundation for how we think about everything around us. From... Show more
Ever wondered why philosophy is called the "mother of all sciences"? The word comes from Greek - 'philo' (love) and 'sophia' (wisdom), literally meaning "love of wisdom." It's humanity's systematic quest to understand reality using reason rather than just faith.
Western philosophy began in ancient Greece around 600 BCE with Thales, who's considered the father of Western philosophy. He famously said "everything is related to each other" and showed how philosophy differs from religion by using reason instead of faith. Meanwhile, Eastern philosophy developed across Asia, encompassing diverse schools of thought from China, India, Japan, and Korea.
The fundamental questions philosophy tackles are surprisingly simple Where am I? How do I know it? What should I do? These might sound basic, but they've kept brilliant minds busy for over 2,500 years, and they're still relevant to your daily decisions today.
Quick Tip Remember that philosophy isn't just abstract thinking - it's a practical tool for understanding yourself and making better decisions in life.
Philosophy splits into several branches that tackle different aspects of human experience. The cognitive branches include metaphysics (what's real?), epistemology (how do we know things?), and logic (how do we reason properly?). The normative branches cover ethics (right vs wrong), aesthetics (beauty and art), and philosophy of the human person.
Western philosophers like Socrates ("True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing") and Aristotle ("We are what we repeatedly do") laid the groundwork for logical thinking. They influenced Western religion, science, and politics for centuries.
Eastern philosophers took different approaches. Confucius gave us the Golden Rule "Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you." Buddha focused on personal enlightenment, whilst Laozi emphasized letting go to find your potential. Eastern philosophy tends to see everything as interconnected parts of a cosmic whole.
Study Smart Don't try to memorise all the quotes - focus on understanding how each philosopher's main idea applies to modern life.
Philosophy isn't just random thinking - it uses specific methods to explore big questions. Reflective philosophy comes from the Latin 'specula' (watch tower), meaning philosophers step back to observe and analyse the world systematically. This involves questioning, self-examination, and breaking down complex ideas into simpler parts.
Understanding the difference between truth and opinion is crucial for doing philosophy well. Truth aims for correctness and can be measured objectively, whilst opinion expresses personal beliefs and feelings. There are three main theories about truth correspondence theory (truth matches reality), coherence theory (truth fits with other true beliefs), and pragmatic theory (truth is what's useful to believe).
Belief is simply thinking something is true, but philosophers dig deeper to find adequate grounds for beliefs. They don't just accept things because they sound nice - they want evidence and logical reasoning.
Reality Check Next time someone states something as fact, ask yourself "Is this actually true, or just their opinion?" This simple question will sharpen your philosophical thinking.
Reasoning is your ability to think logically and understand using proper processes. There are two main types you need to know deductive reasoning (general to specific) and inductive reasoning (specific to general).
Deductive reasoning gives you guaranteed conclusions if your premises are true. For example "All humans are mortal, Plato is human, therefore Plato is mortal." Inductive reasoning gives you probable conclusions based on patterns. Like noticing most dogs in the park are friendly, so tomorrow's dogs will probably be friendly too.
When you make an argument, you're trying to convince someone by giving reasons to accept your conclusion. However, watch out for fallacies - these are sneaky, misleading arguments that sound convincing but use flawed reasoning. They're everywhere in social media, politics, and everyday conversations.
Critical Thinking Boost Learning to spot fallacies will make you much better at evaluating what you read online and hear in debates.
Recognising fallacies is like having a superpower in discussions and debates. Ad hominem attacks the person instead of their argument - like dismissing someone's leadership ideas just because of their gender. Appeal to force uses threats rather than logic ("Do this or you're fired!").
Appeal to the popular assumes something's right because many people believe it, whilst appeal to tradition claims old ideas are automatically correct. Appeal to authority misuses expert opinions to win arguments without proper reasoning.
Two particularly common fallacies are hasty generalisation and cause and effect (assuming unrelated events are connected, like thinking biting your tongue makes people think of you).
Understanding these fallacies doesn't just help with philosophy assignments - it makes you a smarter consumer of news, social media, and political arguments. You'll start noticing how often people use these flawed reasoning patterns to try convincing others.
Pro Tip Don't go around calling out every fallacy you spot - that gets annoying quickly! Instead, use this knowledge to strengthen your own arguments and think more clearly.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
0
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Quotes from every main character
English LiteratureApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Rosalinda Lappay
@rosalindalappay
Philosophy might seem intimidating, but it's actually the foundation for how we think about everything around us. From ancient Greece to modern Asia, philosophers have been asking the same big questions we all wonder about: "Who am I?", "What's real?",... Show more
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Ever wondered why philosophy is called the "mother of all sciences"? The word comes from Greek - 'philo' (love) and 'sophia' (wisdom), literally meaning "love of wisdom." It's humanity's systematic quest to understand reality using reason rather than just faith.
Western philosophy began in ancient Greece around 600 BCE with Thales, who's considered the father of Western philosophy. He famously said "everything is related to each other" and showed how philosophy differs from religion by using reason instead of faith. Meanwhile, Eastern philosophy developed across Asia, encompassing diverse schools of thought from China, India, Japan, and Korea.
The fundamental questions philosophy tackles are surprisingly simple: Where am I? How do I know it? What should I do? These might sound basic, but they've kept brilliant minds busy for over 2,500 years, and they're still relevant to your daily decisions today.
Quick Tip: Remember that philosophy isn't just abstract thinking - it's a practical tool for understanding yourself and making better decisions in life.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Philosophy splits into several branches that tackle different aspects of human experience. The cognitive branches include metaphysics (what's real?), epistemology (how do we know things?), and logic (how do we reason properly?). The normative branches cover ethics (right vs wrong), aesthetics (beauty and art), and philosophy of the human person.
Western philosophers like Socrates ("True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing") and Aristotle ("We are what we repeatedly do") laid the groundwork for logical thinking. They influenced Western religion, science, and politics for centuries.
Eastern philosophers took different approaches. Confucius gave us the Golden Rule: "Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you." Buddha focused on personal enlightenment, whilst Laozi emphasized letting go to find your potential. Eastern philosophy tends to see everything as interconnected parts of a cosmic whole.
Study Smart: Don't try to memorise all the quotes - focus on understanding how each philosopher's main idea applies to modern life.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Philosophy isn't just random thinking - it uses specific methods to explore big questions. Reflective philosophy comes from the Latin 'specula' (watch tower), meaning philosophers step back to observe and analyse the world systematically. This involves questioning, self-examination, and breaking down complex ideas into simpler parts.
Understanding the difference between truth and opinion is crucial for doing philosophy well. Truth aims for correctness and can be measured objectively, whilst opinion expresses personal beliefs and feelings. There are three main theories about truth: correspondence theory (truth matches reality), coherence theory (truth fits with other true beliefs), and pragmatic theory (truth is what's useful to believe).
Belief is simply thinking something is true, but philosophers dig deeper to find adequate grounds for beliefs. They don't just accept things because they sound nice - they want evidence and logical reasoning.
Reality Check: Next time someone states something as fact, ask yourself: "Is this actually true, or just their opinion?" This simple question will sharpen your philosophical thinking.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Reasoning is your ability to think logically and understand using proper processes. There are two main types you need to know: deductive reasoning (general to specific) and inductive reasoning (specific to general).
Deductive reasoning gives you guaranteed conclusions if your premises are true. For example: "All humans are mortal, Plato is human, therefore Plato is mortal." Inductive reasoning gives you probable conclusions based on patterns. Like noticing most dogs in the park are friendly, so tomorrow's dogs will probably be friendly too.
When you make an argument, you're trying to convince someone by giving reasons to accept your conclusion. However, watch out for fallacies - these are sneaky, misleading arguments that sound convincing but use flawed reasoning. They're everywhere in social media, politics, and everyday conversations.
Critical Thinking Boost: Learning to spot fallacies will make you much better at evaluating what you read online and hear in debates.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Recognising fallacies is like having a superpower in discussions and debates. Ad hominem attacks the person instead of their argument - like dismissing someone's leadership ideas just because of their gender. Appeal to force uses threats rather than logic ("Do this or you're fired!").
Appeal to the popular assumes something's right because many people believe it, whilst appeal to tradition claims old ideas are automatically correct. Appeal to authority misuses expert opinions to win arguments without proper reasoning.
Two particularly common fallacies are hasty generalisation and cause and effect (assuming unrelated events are connected, like thinking biting your tongue makes people think of you).
Understanding these fallacies doesn't just help with philosophy assignments - it makes you a smarter consumer of news, social media, and political arguments. You'll start noticing how often people use these flawed reasoning patterns to try convincing others.
Pro Tip: Don't go around calling out every fallacy you spot - that gets annoying quickly! Instead, use this knowledge to strengthen your own arguments and think more clearly.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
0
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Quotes from every main character
English LiteratureApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Sociology