MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL PHILOSOPHY – 7172/2 – JUNE
2023
AQA
A-level
PHILOSOPHY
7172/2
Paper 2 The metaphysics of God and the metaphysics of mind
Mark scheme
June 2023
2
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL PHILOSOPHY – 7172/2 – JUNE
2023
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the performance at the mid-point of the level. There are marks in each
level. For the 3 and 5 mark questions that have only 1 mark in each level you need only apply step 1
below.
To support you in your marking, you will have standardisation scripts. These have been marked by the
Lead Examiner at the correct standard. Generally, you will have a standardisation script to exemplify the
standard for each level of the mark scheme for a particular item.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start by reading the whole of the student’s response and then, using the mark scheme level descriptors
and the standardisation scripts, place the response in the level which it matches or best fits.
When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. Start with the middle mark of the level
and then look at the student’s response in comparison with the level descriptor and the standardisation
script. If the student’s response is better than the standardisation script, award a mark above the
mid-point of the level. If the student’s response is weaker than the standardisation script, award a mark
below the mid-point of the level.
For the 25 mark questions examiners should bear in mind the relative weightings of the assessment
objectives and be careful not to over/under credit a particular skill. This will be exemplified and
reinforced as part of examiner training.
Guidance
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other appropriate points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded zero marks.
3
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL PHILOSOPHY – 7172/2 – JUNE
2023
Section A
Metaphysics of God
0 1 What does Swinburne mean by ‘temporal order/regularity’ in his design argument?
[3 marks]
AO1 = 3
Marks Levels of response mark scheme
3 A full and correct answer, given precisely, with little or no redundancy.
2 The substantive content of the answer is correct, but there may be some
redundancy or minor imprecision.
1 Relevant, but fragmented, points.
0 Nothing written worthy of credit.
Indicative content
Context
In ‘The Argument from Design’ Swinburne identifies “two kinds of regularity or order”: “spatial
order” (or “regularities of copresence”) and “temporal order” (or “regularities of succession”).
Where “spatial order” is used as evidence in design arguments it is open to famous objections:
eg Hume’s critique of analogy and Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.
Swinburne thinks that “temporal order” is not vulnerable to those objections.
If students explain the meaning of “temporal order” though reference to this distinction it should
not be classed as redundancy. It is important, however, that students do not confuse the two
kinds of order in their explanations.
Awarding marks
Responses awarded maximum marks will contain (1) a reference to the ‘temporal’ dimension of
this ‘order’, since this is the most salient feature [NB: This must be in connection with a relevant
aspect of Swinburne’s design argument]; and (2) explain the ‘order/regularity’ in terms of some
relevant feature of Swinburne’s design argument other than the fact it concludes in favour of a
designer: eg “regularities of succession”, “simple patterns of behaviour of objects”, the “laws of
nature”.
Students do not need to refer to God (or a designer) to access full marks. Some will, and that is
fine, but if they do then they must of course represent Swinburne’s argument accurately: that
‘temporal order/regularity’ is best explained by a personal agent (or cause) and so a designer
(God) probably exists.
Examples of responses for 3 marks
Temporal regularity refers to the order(s) of succession in nature/the world.
The temporal arrangement (or regular patterns/behaviours) of physical objects / features of the
universe (such as those explained by the laws of nature).
The constancy/consistently in how events follow each other in time.
4
2023
AQA
A-level
PHILOSOPHY
7172/2
Paper 2 The metaphysics of God and the metaphysics of mind
Mark scheme
June 2023
2
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL PHILOSOPHY – 7172/2 – JUNE
2023
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the performance at the mid-point of the level. There are marks in each
level. For the 3 and 5 mark questions that have only 1 mark in each level you need only apply step 1
below.
To support you in your marking, you will have standardisation scripts. These have been marked by the
Lead Examiner at the correct standard. Generally, you will have a standardisation script to exemplify the
standard for each level of the mark scheme for a particular item.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start by reading the whole of the student’s response and then, using the mark scheme level descriptors
and the standardisation scripts, place the response in the level which it matches or best fits.
When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. Start with the middle mark of the level
and then look at the student’s response in comparison with the level descriptor and the standardisation
script. If the student’s response is better than the standardisation script, award a mark above the
mid-point of the level. If the student’s response is weaker than the standardisation script, award a mark
below the mid-point of the level.
For the 25 mark questions examiners should bear in mind the relative weightings of the assessment
objectives and be careful not to over/under credit a particular skill. This will be exemplified and
reinforced as part of examiner training.
Guidance
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other appropriate points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded zero marks.
3
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL PHILOSOPHY – 7172/2 – JUNE
2023
Section A
Metaphysics of God
0 1 What does Swinburne mean by ‘temporal order/regularity’ in his design argument?
[3 marks]
AO1 = 3
Marks Levels of response mark scheme
3 A full and correct answer, given precisely, with little or no redundancy.
2 The substantive content of the answer is correct, but there may be some
redundancy or minor imprecision.
1 Relevant, but fragmented, points.
0 Nothing written worthy of credit.
Indicative content
Context
In ‘The Argument from Design’ Swinburne identifies “two kinds of regularity or order”: “spatial
order” (or “regularities of copresence”) and “temporal order” (or “regularities of succession”).
Where “spatial order” is used as evidence in design arguments it is open to famous objections:
eg Hume’s critique of analogy and Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.
Swinburne thinks that “temporal order” is not vulnerable to those objections.
If students explain the meaning of “temporal order” though reference to this distinction it should
not be classed as redundancy. It is important, however, that students do not confuse the two
kinds of order in their explanations.
Awarding marks
Responses awarded maximum marks will contain (1) a reference to the ‘temporal’ dimension of
this ‘order’, since this is the most salient feature [NB: This must be in connection with a relevant
aspect of Swinburne’s design argument]; and (2) explain the ‘order/regularity’ in terms of some
relevant feature of Swinburne’s design argument other than the fact it concludes in favour of a
designer: eg “regularities of succession”, “simple patterns of behaviour of objects”, the “laws of
nature”.
Students do not need to refer to God (or a designer) to access full marks. Some will, and that is
fine, but if they do then they must of course represent Swinburne’s argument accurately: that
‘temporal order/regularity’ is best explained by a personal agent (or cause) and so a designer
(God) probably exists.
Examples of responses for 3 marks
Temporal regularity refers to the order(s) of succession in nature/the world.
The temporal arrangement (or regular patterns/behaviours) of physical objects / features of the
universe (such as those explained by the laws of nature).
The constancy/consistently in how events follow each other in time.
4
