Year 7 CCEA Philosophy: Summer Preparation and Bridging Course | CCEA七年级哲学：暑期预习与衔接课程

📚 Year 7 CCEA Philosophy: Summer Preparation and Bridging Course | CCEA七年级哲学：暑期预习与衔接课程

Welcome to the exciting world of philosophy! This summer bridging course is designed to help you transition smoothly into Year 7 and the CCEA curriculum. You will begin to think like a philosopher by exploring big questions about life, knowledge, right and wrong, and the nature of reality. Philosophy is not just a subject to study; it is a way of thinking that will sharpen your curiosity and help you make sense of the world around you. Throughout this course, we will introduce the key skills that underpin CCEA Religious Education and Learning for Life and Work, where philosophical enquiry plays a vital role. By the end, you will feel confident and ready to engage with classroom discussions and reflective tasks.

欢迎来到奇妙的哲学世界！这份暑期衔接课程旨在帮助你顺利过渡到七年级并适应CCEA课程。你将通过探索关于生命、知识、对与错以及现实本质的重大问题，开始像哲学家一样思考。哲学不仅仅是一门要学习的学科，更是一种思维方式，它将激发你的好奇心，帮助你理解周围的世界。在整个课程中，我们将介绍支撑CCEA宗教教育以及“生活与工作”课程的关键技能，在这些领域中哲学探究起着至关重要的作用。完成课程后，你将充满信心，并准备好参与课堂讨论和反思任务。

1. What Is Philosophy? | 什么是哲学？

Philosophy comes from the Greek words ‘philo’ (love) and ‘sophia’ (wisdom), so it literally means the love of wisdom. It is the activity of asking fundamental questions that do not have easy answers. Unlike science, which often relies on experiments, philosophy uses reason, logic, and argument to explore ideas. For example, a philosopher might ask, ‘What does it mean to be a good person?’ or ‘How do we know that we are not dreaming right now?’ These questions encourage us to examine our beliefs and assumptions, making philosophy an essential tool for deep thinking.

哲学一词来源于希腊语“philo”（爱）和“sophia”（智慧），因此它的字面意思就是对智慧的热爱。它是一种提出没有简单答案的根本性问题的活动。与通常依赖实验的科学不同，哲学运用理性、逻辑和论证来探索思想。例如，哲学家可能会问：“做一个好人意味着什么？”或者“我们如何知道自己现在不是在做梦？”这些问题促使我们审视自己的信念和假设，使哲学成为深度思考的重要工具。

In Year 7, you will not be expected to memorise long lists of famous philosophers. Instead, you will learn to ask your own questions and listen carefully to the views of others. Philosophy in the CCEA framework encourages open-mindedness and respectful dialogue. Whether you are discussing a story from a religious tradition or a moral dilemma in Personal Development, you are doing philosophy whenever you think critically about meaning and values.

在七年级，你不需要死记硬背一大串著名哲学家的名字。相反，你将学会提出自己的问题，并认真倾听他人的观点。CCEA框架下的哲学鼓励开放心态和相互尊重的对话。无论你是在讨论宗教传统中的某个故事，还是在个人发展课上探讨道德困境，只要你批判性地思考意义与价值，你就是在从事哲学。

2. The Branches of Philosophy | 哲学的分支

Philosophy can be divided into several main branches, each tackling a different set of questions. Familiarising yourself with these branches will give you a mental map of the subject. The table below outlines four key areas that resonate with the CCEA Key Stage 3 curriculum.

哲学可以划分为几个主要分支，每个分支处理一组不同的问题。熟悉这些分支会给你提供这个学科的心理地图。下面的表格概述了与CCEA关键阶段3课程相呼应的四个关键领域。

Branch (English)	分支 (中文)	Key Question	核心问题
Ethics	伦理学	What is right and wrong?	什么是对与错？
Epistemology	认识论	How do we know things?	我们如何认识事物？
Metaphysics	形而上学	What is real?	什么是真实的？
Logic	逻辑学	What makes a good argument?	什么构成好的论证？

Each of these branches will appear in your CCEA lessons, although they may not be labelled as such. For instance, when you discuss fairness in society, you are doing ethics. When you examine different religious beliefs about the afterlife, you are dipping into metaphysics. Recognising these connections makes learning more exciting and coherent.

这些分支中的每一个都会出现在你的CCEA课堂上，尽管它们可能不会被这么标签。例如，当你讨论社会公平时，你就是在进行伦理学的思考。当你考察关于来世的不同宗教信仰时，你就是在涉足形而上学。认识到这些联系会让学习更加激动人心且连贯一致。

3. Asking Big Questions | 提出大问题

At the heart of philosophy is the courage to ask big, open-ended questions. These are questions that cannot be answered simply by looking up a fact. For example, ‘What is happiness?’ or ‘Why is there something rather than nothing?’ CCEA encourages you to be curious and to wonder about the world. In Year 7, you will be invited to share your own big questions and explore possible answers through dialogue and reflection.

哲学的核心在于有勇气提出宏大且开放的问题。这些问题无法仅靠查找一个事实来回答。例如，“什么是幸福？”或者“为什么有东西存在而不是什么都没有？”CCEA鼓励你保持好奇心并对世界感到惊奇。在七年级，你将被邀请分享你自己的大问题，并通过对话与反思探索可能的答案。

One useful technique is to turn everyday observations into philosophical questions. If you see a friend being treated unfairly, you might ask, ‘Where does our sense of justice come from?’ If you feel certain that 2 + 2 = 4, you might explore, ‘Can we trust our senses and our mind?’ Practising this habit over the summer will prepare you to engage deeply with topics in Religious Education, where questions about existence, purpose, and morality are central.

一个有用的技巧是将日常观察转化为哲学问题。如果你看到朋友受到不公平对待，你可能会问：“我们的正义感从何而来？”如果你确信 2 + 2 = 4，你可能会探索：“我们能够信任自己的感觉和心智吗？”在暑假期间练习这个习惯，将使你准备好深入参与宗教教育中的主题，其中关于存在、目的和道德的问题是核心。

4. Critical Thinking: A Core Skill | 批判性思维：核心技能

Critical thinking is the ability to analyse information and arguments clearly and rationally. It is not about being negative or finding fault; it is about thinking carefully before you accept a claim. In CCEA courses, you will be asked to evaluate different perspectives on issues such as environmental responsibility or the meaning of religious stories. Developing critical thinking means learning to ask: Is this evidence reliable? Are there hidden assumptions? Does the conclusion follow from the reasons given?

批判性思维是一种清晰、理性地分析信息和论证的能力。它并不是消极或找茬，而是在你接受一个主张之前进行仔细思考。在CCEA课程中，你将被要求评估关于环境责任或宗教故事意义等问题的不同观点。发展批判性思维意味着学会提问：这个证据可靠吗？是否存在隐藏的假设？结论是否从给出的理由中推导出来？

You can practise critical thinking at home. Try watching a short news clip or reading a simple story, then discuss it with a family member. Ask each other what the main point was and whether you found the reasons convincing. In philosophy, we often say that a statement is only as strong as the reasons supporting it. This skill will also help you in your other subjects, from History to Science.

你可以在家练习批判性思维。尝试看一段简短的新闻片段或者读一个简单的故事，然后与家人讨论。互相询问主要观点是什么，以及你是否觉得那些理由令人信服。在哲学中，我们常说一个陈述的力度取决于支撑它的理由。这项技能也将对你其他学科的学习有帮助，从历史到科学都是如此。

5. Logic and Arguments | 逻辑与论证

An argument in philosophy is not a shouting match; it is a structured set of statements designed to support a conclusion. A basic argument has premises (reasons) and a conclusion (the point you want to prove). For example, ‘All mammals are warm-blooded. Whales are mammals. Therefore, whales are warm-blooded.’ This is a valid logical structure. Learning to build and critique arguments is a key part of the Year 7 philosophy experience within CCEA.

哲学中的论证并非争吵，而是一组旨在支持某个结论的结构化陈述。一个基本论证包含前提（理由）和结论（你想证明的观点）。例如：“所有哺乳动物都是温血动物。鲸鱼是哺乳动物。因此，鲸鱼是温血动物。”这是一个有效的逻辑结构。学习构建和评析论证是CCEA七年级哲学体验的关键部分。

You can start by spotting arguments in everyday life. Advertisements, speeches, and even conversations with friends contain attempts to persuade. Ask yourself: Are the premises true? Is the connection between premises and conclusion strong? Sometimes an argument may be logically valid but contain a false premise, making it unsound. Understanding this distinction will sharpen your reasoning and help you express your own ideas more clearly.

你可以从在日常生活发现论证开始。广告、演讲甚至与朋友的对话都包含试图说服的企图。问问自己：前提是真的吗？前提和结论之间的联系强吗？有时一个论证可能在逻辑上是有效的，但包含一个错误的前提，从而使其不成立。理解这种区别将提升你的推理能力，并帮助你更清晰地表达自己的想法。

6. Ethics: What Is Right and Wrong? | 伦理：什么是对与错？

Ethics is the branch of philosophy that examines moral values and principles. It asks questions like, ‘How should we treat other people?’, ‘Is it ever acceptable to tell a lie?’, and ‘What makes a fair society?’ CCEA’s Religious Education and Personal Development strands regularly engage with ethical issues, from the golden rule shared by many faiths to modern dilemmas about technology and the environment.

伦理学是哲学中审视道德价值与原则的分支。它提出的问题包括：“我们应该怎样对待他人？”“说谎是否可以被接受？”以及“什么造就一个公平的社会？”CCEA的宗教教育和个人发展模块经常涉及伦理议题，从许多信仰共有的金律到关于技术和环境的现代困境。

One famous ethical theory is utilitarianism, which suggests that the right action is the one that produces the most happiness for the greatest number of people. Another is duty-based ethics, which argues that some actions are just wrong in themselves, regardless of the consequences. You do not need to memorise these terms now, but thinking about real-life scenarios from different angles will prepare you for class discussions. Over the summer, consider dilemmas such as whether it is right to keep a lost item if you cannot find the owner.

一种著名的伦理理论是功利主义，它主张正确的行为是能够为最大多数人带来最大幸福的行为。另一种是基于义务的伦理学，它认为有些行为本身就是错误的，无论后果如何。你现在不需要记住这些术语，但从不同角度思考现实生活情境将为课堂讨论做好准备。在暑假期间，思考一下诸如“如果找不到失主，保留捡到的物品是否正确”这样的困境。

7. Knowledge and Belief | 知识与信念

Epistemology, the study of knowledge, asks how we know what we think we know. Can we trust our senses? Is knowledge the same as true belief? For instance, you might believe it will rain tomorrow because you saw a forecast, but does that belief count as knowledge if you have no good reason? CCEA encourages you to distinguish between opinion, belief, and knowledge, which is crucial in subjects like Science and Religious Education.

认识论，即关于知识的研究，问的是我们如何知道自己认为知道的事情。我们能够信任自己的感官吗？知识等同于真实的信念吗？例如，你因为看到天气预报而相信明天会下雨，但如果你没有充分的理由，这个信念能算作知识吗？CCEA鼓励你区分看法、信念和知识，这在科学和宗教教育等学科中至关重要。

A classic philosophical scenario is Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, where prisoners see only shadows on a wall and mistake them for reality. This story prompts us to ask whether what we perceive is the full truth. You can explore your own assumptions by asking, ‘How sure am I about this fact? What evidence would change my mind?’ Such reflection is a foundation for learning across the curriculum.

一个经典的哲学情境是柏拉图的洞穴寓言，其中囚犯只看到墙上的影子并误以为它们就是现实。这个故事促使我们问，我们所感知的是否就是全部的真相。你可以通过提问“我对这个事实有多确定？什么证据会改变我的想法？”来探索自己的假设。这种反思是贯穿整个课程学习的基础。

8. The Mind and Reality | 心灵与现实

Metaphysics explores the nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and body. Are we just physical brains, or is there something more to consciousness? Do abstract objects like numbers exist independently of human thought? These questions might seem abstract, but they connect to everyday wonders: what happens when you dream? CCEA Religious Education often touches on metaphysical questions about the soul, life after death, and the nature of the divine.

形而上学探索现实的本质，包括心灵与身体的关系。我们仅仅是物理的大脑，还是意识之中存在着更多东西？像数字这样的抽象对象是否独立于人类思想而存在？这些问题可能显得抽象，但它们与日常的好奇相连：当你做梦时发生了什么？CCEA宗教教育经常涉及关于灵魂、死后生命以及神性本质的形而上学问题。

As you prepare for Year 7, you might play with thought experiments. For example, imagine a robot that behaves exactly like a human: does it have a mind? Or think about whether colours exist in the dark. There are no final answers, but the process of reasoning through such puzzles trains your philosophical imagination and shows that reality is more complex than it first appears.

在你为七年级做准备时，你可以玩玩思想实验。例如，想象一个行为与人类完全一样的机器人：它有心灵吗？或者思考一下颜色在黑暗中是否存在。这些问题没有最终答案，但通过此类谜题进行推理的过程会训练你的哲学想象力，并表明现实比乍看之下更为复杂。

9. Philosophy in the CCEA Curriculum | CCEA课程中的哲学

In Northern Ireland’s CCEA system, philosophical enquiry is embedded across several subject areas. Key Stage 3 Religious Education encourages pupils to explore questions of meaning, purpose, and values from both religious and non-religious perspectives. Learning for Life and Work, which includes Personal Development and Citizenship, develops skills in ethical reasoning and critical reflection on social issues. By treating these topics philosophically, you learn to appreciate diversity and think for yourself.

在北爱尔兰的CCEA体系中，哲学探究被嵌入到多个学科领域。关键阶段3的宗教教育鼓励学生从宗教和非宗教的视角探索有关意义、目的和价值的问题。“生活与工作”课程，包括个人发展和公民教育，培养你在社会议题上进行伦理推理和批判性反思的技能。通过以哲学的方式处理这些主题，你将学会欣赏多样性并独立思考。

Your teachers will use approaches such as community of enquiry, where you sit in a circle and take turns sharing ideas in a respectful manner. This method, inspired by P4C (Philosophy for Children), helps you build communication and thinking skills simultaneously. Knowing what to expect can make those first lessons feel less intimidating and more exciting.

你的老师将采用诸如“探究社群”之类的教学方法，你们围坐成一圈，轮流以尊重的方式分享想法。这种方法受到儿童哲学（P4C）的启发，帮助你同时培养沟通和思维技能。知道将会发生什么能让最初的那些课堂减少威压感，增添兴奋感。

10. Getting Ready Over the Summer | 暑期准备

You do not need any special equipment or textbooks to start doing philosophy. A curious mind and a notebook are enough. Over the summer break, try keeping a ‘Wonder Journal’ where you jot down at least one philosophical question each day. It could be as simple as ‘Why do we dream?’ or ‘What makes a friend true?’ This habit will train your brain to notice the philosophical dimensions of everyday life.

开始从事哲学并不需要任何特殊的设备或教科书。一颗好奇的心和一个笔记本就足够了。在暑假期间，尝试写一本“惊奇日记”，每天至少记下一个哲学问题。这个问题可以很简单，比如“我们为什么会做梦？”或者“什么是真正的朋友？”这个习惯将训练你的大脑去注意日常生活中的哲学维度。

You might also enjoy watching age-appropriate clips or reading illustrated storybooks that raise moral or conceptual questions. Talk with your family about big ideas; they might have fascinating perspectives to share. Remember, philosophy is a social activity: thinking together often leads to deeper understanding than thinking alone. This approach aligns perfectly with the collaborative spirit encouraged by CCEA.

你或许还喜欢观看适龄的视频片段或阅读提出道德或概念问题的绘本。与家人聊聊那些宏大的想法；他们也许会有令人着迷的观点与你分享。记住，哲学是一项社会活动：共同思考往往比独自思考带来更深的理解。这种方法与CCEA所倡导的合作精神完美契合。

11. Key Terms to Explore | 需要探索的关键术语

While you will learn terminology gradually, becoming familiar with a few key words can boost your confidence. Below is a list of terms you might hear in your first term, along with simple explanations.

虽然你将会逐步学习术语，但提前熟悉几个关键词可以提升你的信心。下面是你可能在第一学期听到的术语清单，附有简单解释。

Premise — a reason given in support of a conclusion. / 前提 —— 为支持结论而给出的理由。
Conclusion — the statement that an argument is trying to prove. / 结论 —— 论证试图证明的陈述。
Dilemma — a situation where a difficult choice has to be made between two options. / 困境 —— 在两个选项之间必须做出艰难选择的情境。
Perspective — a particular way of looking at something. / 视角 —— 看待事物的特定方式。
Reasoning — the process of thinking about things in a logical way. / 推理 —— 以合乎逻辑的方式思考事物的过程。
Assumption — something that you accept as true without proof. / 假设 —— 你在没有证据的情况下接受为真的事物。

Using these words in your writing and speech will help you articulate your thoughts more precisely. CCEA values clear expression, so building your philosophical vocabulary is a smart move.

在你的写作和发言中使用这些词语，将帮助你更精确地表达思想。CCEA重视清晰表达，因此构建你的哲学术语词汇量是明智之举。

12. Final Thoughts and Encouragement | 最后的思考与鼓励

Embarking on philosophical studies at Year 7 is an adventure in thinking. You will sometimes find that there are more questions than answers, and that is exactly how it should be. Philosophy teaches us that uncertainty is not a weakness but an invitation to keep exploring. The skills you develop — questioning, reason-giving, listening, and reflecting — will serve you well across all your subjects and throughout life.

在七年级开启哲学学习是一次思维的冒险。你有时会发现，问题比答案还要多，而这正是它应有的样子。哲学教导我们，不确定性并非弱点，而是继续探索的邀请。你培养的技能——提问、给出理由、倾听和反思——将在你所有的学科和整个人生中让你受益匪浅。

As you prepare for September, remember that every great philosopher started exactly where you are now: with wonder. Embrace the unknown, stay curious, and look forward to the rich conversations waiting for you in the CCEA classroom. Your philosophical journey is just beginning, and it promises to be a deeply rewarding one.

在你为九月做准备时，请记住，每一位伟大的哲学家都始于你现在的位置：从惊奇开始。拥抱未知，保持好奇，并期待在CCEA教室里等待你的丰富对话。你的哲学之旅才刚刚开始，它必将是一段收获满满的历程。

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Year 7 CCEA Philosophy: Summer Preparation and Bridging Course | CCEA七年级哲学：暑期预习与衔接课程