AQA_2024: A-level Philosophy - Paper 2
The Metaphysics of God and the Metaphysics of Mind.
(Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)
Please write clearly in block capitals.
Centre number Candidate number
Surname
Forename(s)
Candidate signat ure
I declare this is my own work.
A-level
PHILOSOPHY
Paper 2 The metaphysics of God and the metaphysics of mind
Wednesday 22 May 2024 Afternoon Time allowed: 3 hours
Materials For Examiner’s Use
You will need no other materials.
Question Mark
Instructions 1
Use black ink or black ball-point pen. 2
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page.
Answer all questions. 3
You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write 4
outside the box around each page or on blank pages. 5
If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s). 6
Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want 7
to be marked. 8
9
Information
The marks for questions are shown in brackets. 10
The maximum mark for this paper is 100.
TOTAL
You will be assessed on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
,For A-Level Philosophy Paper 2: The Metaphysics of God and the Metaphysics of Mind, focus on the
following key areas:
Metaphysics of God:
1. Arguments for the Existence of God:
o Cosmological Argument: Study Aquinas' First Cause and Kalam arguments for a necessary
first cause.
o Teleological Argument: Focus on Paley's Watchmaker analogy and Aquinas’ design
argument.
o Ontological Argument: Understand Anselm's argument for God's existence from the concept
of God.
o Moral Argument: Study Kant’s argument based on morality’s connection to God.
2. God’s Attributes:
o Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnibenevolence: Understand the traditional view of God's
attributes and the issues (e.g., problem of evil and free will).
o Eternality: Study the nature of God as eternal or outside time.
3. The Problem of Evil:
o Logical and Evidential Problem of Evil: Examine arguments by Mackie and J.L. Mackie
regarding the compatibility of evil with an omnipotent, omnibenevolent God.
o Free Will Defense: Study Augustine’s and Irenaeus's theodicies.
Metaphysics of Mind:
1. Mind-Body Problem:
o Dualism: Understand Descartes' substance dualism (separation of mind and body).
o Physicalism/Materialism: Study theories like behaviorism and identity theory, arguing the
mind is reducible to the brain.
o Functionalism: Explore how the mind can be understood in terms of its functions (e.g., Putnam
and Fodor).
2. Personal Identity:
o Locke’s Theory of Identity: Understand psychological continuity as a basis for personal
identity.
o Bundle Theory: Study the theory that identity is just a bundle of experiences (Hume).
3. Consciousness:
o Qualia: Explore the nature of subjective experiences (Nagel’s “What is it like to be a bat?”).
o The Hard Problem of Consciousness: Study Chalmers' distinction between easy and hard
problems of consciousness.
4. Brain and Consciousness:
o Descartes' interactionism vs. modern neuropsychology.
o Zombie Argument: Consider Chalmers' zombie argument against physicalism.
By focusing on these areas, you'll gain a solid understanding of the metaphysical debates surrounding God and
the mind, preparing you for A-Level Philosophy Paper 2.
IB/M/Jun24/E4 7172/2
, 2
Do not write
outside the
Section A box
Metaphysics of God
Answer all questions in this section.
0 1 What does it mean to say that God is (a) ‘omniscient’ and (b) ‘omnipotent’?
[3 marks]
3
0 2 Explain Descartes’ version of the cosmological argument based on his continuing
existence.
[5 marks]
IB/M/Jun24/7172/2
, 3
Do not write
outside the
box
Extra space
5
0 3 Explain how an empiricist might object to the ontological argument as an a priori proof
for God’s existence.
[5 marks]
Turn over ►
IB/M/Jun24/7172/2
The Metaphysics of God and the Metaphysics of Mind.
(Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)
Please write clearly in block capitals.
Centre number Candidate number
Surname
Forename(s)
Candidate signat ure
I declare this is my own work.
A-level
PHILOSOPHY
Paper 2 The metaphysics of God and the metaphysics of mind
Wednesday 22 May 2024 Afternoon Time allowed: 3 hours
Materials For Examiner’s Use
You will need no other materials.
Question Mark
Instructions 1
Use black ink or black ball-point pen. 2
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page.
Answer all questions. 3
You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write 4
outside the box around each page or on blank pages. 5
If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s). 6
Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want 7
to be marked. 8
9
Information
The marks for questions are shown in brackets. 10
The maximum mark for this paper is 100.
TOTAL
You will be assessed on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
,For A-Level Philosophy Paper 2: The Metaphysics of God and the Metaphysics of Mind, focus on the
following key areas:
Metaphysics of God:
1. Arguments for the Existence of God:
o Cosmological Argument: Study Aquinas' First Cause and Kalam arguments for a necessary
first cause.
o Teleological Argument: Focus on Paley's Watchmaker analogy and Aquinas’ design
argument.
o Ontological Argument: Understand Anselm's argument for God's existence from the concept
of God.
o Moral Argument: Study Kant’s argument based on morality’s connection to God.
2. God’s Attributes:
o Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnibenevolence: Understand the traditional view of God's
attributes and the issues (e.g., problem of evil and free will).
o Eternality: Study the nature of God as eternal or outside time.
3. The Problem of Evil:
o Logical and Evidential Problem of Evil: Examine arguments by Mackie and J.L. Mackie
regarding the compatibility of evil with an omnipotent, omnibenevolent God.
o Free Will Defense: Study Augustine’s and Irenaeus's theodicies.
Metaphysics of Mind:
1. Mind-Body Problem:
o Dualism: Understand Descartes' substance dualism (separation of mind and body).
o Physicalism/Materialism: Study theories like behaviorism and identity theory, arguing the
mind is reducible to the brain.
o Functionalism: Explore how the mind can be understood in terms of its functions (e.g., Putnam
and Fodor).
2. Personal Identity:
o Locke’s Theory of Identity: Understand psychological continuity as a basis for personal
identity.
o Bundle Theory: Study the theory that identity is just a bundle of experiences (Hume).
3. Consciousness:
o Qualia: Explore the nature of subjective experiences (Nagel’s “What is it like to be a bat?”).
o The Hard Problem of Consciousness: Study Chalmers' distinction between easy and hard
problems of consciousness.
4. Brain and Consciousness:
o Descartes' interactionism vs. modern neuropsychology.
o Zombie Argument: Consider Chalmers' zombie argument against physicalism.
By focusing on these areas, you'll gain a solid understanding of the metaphysical debates surrounding God and
the mind, preparing you for A-Level Philosophy Paper 2.
IB/M/Jun24/E4 7172/2
, 2
Do not write
outside the
Section A box
Metaphysics of God
Answer all questions in this section.
0 1 What does it mean to say that God is (a) ‘omniscient’ and (b) ‘omnipotent’?
[3 marks]
3
0 2 Explain Descartes’ version of the cosmological argument based on his continuing
existence.
[5 marks]
IB/M/Jun24/7172/2
, 3
Do not write
outside the
box
Extra space
5
0 3 Explain how an empiricist might object to the ontological argument as an a priori proof
for God’s existence.
[5 marks]
Turn over ►
IB/M/Jun24/7172/2
