📚 Year 7 CIE Philosophy: Transition Guide | Year 7 CIE 哲学：升学衔接指南
As you step into Year 7, you may be curious about the new subject called Philosophy. This guide will help you understand what philosophy is, why it matters, and how you can prepare for a successful start. You will discover that philosophy is not just about old books and difficult words — it is an exciting journey into the heart of human thinking.
当你进入七年级，你可能会对一门叫做哲学的新学科感到好奇。这份指南将帮助你理解什么是哲学、它为什么重要，以及你如何才能成功入门。你会发现哲学并不仅仅是关于古老的书籍和难懂的词汇——它是一次通往人类思维核心的激动人心的旅程。
In the CIE framework, Year 7 Philosophy is designed to introduce you to the basic skills of critical thinking, reasoning and reflection. You will learn to ask big questions, listen to different points of view, and build your own arguments. This transition guide will give you a clear picture of what lies ahead and how to make the most of your first year.
在 CIE 课程体系里，七年级哲学旨在引导你掌握批判性思维、推理与反思的基本技能。你将学会提出重大问题、倾听不同观点并构建自己的论证。这份衔接指南将让你清晰地了解未来的学习内容，并帮助你充分利用第一年的时间。
1. What is Philosophy? | 什么是哲学？
Philosophy comes from the Greek words ‘philo’ (love) and ‘sophia’ (wisdom). It is the activity of asking big questions about the world, our existence, and how we should live. Unlike science, which relies on experiments, philosophy uses reason and logical thinking to explore ideas that cannot be tested in a lab.
哲学一词源于希腊语 ‘philo’（爱）和 ‘sophia’（智慧）。它是一种探讨关于世界、我们的存在以及我们应当如何生活的重大问题的活动。与依赖实验的科学不同，哲学使用理性和逻辑思维来探索无法在实验室中检验的观念。
Philosophers do not simply accept answers; they challenge assumptions and try to build arguments for what they believe. In Year 7, you will start by learning how to think clearly and ask meaningful questions. You will soon see that philosophy is everywhere — in the way we speak, the rules we follow, and even in the stories we enjoy.
哲学家不会简单地接受答案；他们质疑假设，并试图为自己的信念构建论证。在七年级，你将首先学习如何清晰地思考并提出有意义的问题。你很快就会发现，哲学无处不在——存在于我们的说话方式、我们遵循的规则，甚至我们欣赏的故事中。
2. Why Study Philosophy in Year 7? | 为什么要在七年级学习哲学？
Studying philosophy at this age helps you develop skills that are useful in all other subjects and in daily life. You learn to analyse information, spot weak reasoning, and express your thoughts more clearly. These are exactly the skills assessed across the CIE curriculum, from English to Mathematics.
在这个年龄学习哲学，有助于培养你在所有其他学科和日常生活中都有用的技能。你学会分析信息、发现薄弱的推理，并更清晰地表达自己的想法。这些正是 CIE 课程从英语到数学都评估的技能。
Philosophy also encourages you to be open-minded and to respect different viewpoints. When you discuss questions like ‘What makes a good friend?’ or ‘Is it ever right to lie?’, you practise listening carefully and changing your mind when faced with a better argument. This helps you become a more thoughtful and confident learner.
哲学还鼓励你保持开放的心态，尊重不同的观点。当你讨论 ‘怎样才算一个好朋友？’ 或 ‘说谎是否总是错的？’ 等问题时，你练习了仔细倾听，并在遇到更好的论证时转变想法。这有助于你成为更有思想、更自信的学习者。
3. The Philosophical Mindset: Questioning Everything | 哲学思维：质疑一切
A key part of doing philosophy is the willingness to ask ‘Why?’ about things we usually take for granted. Why do we have rules? Why do people believe different things? What does it mean to be fair? This habit of questioning is the engine of philosophical thought.
进行哲学思考的一个关键便是愿意对我们通常视为理所应当的事情问一个 ‘为什么？’。为什么要有规则？为什么人们相信不同的事物？公平意味着什么？这种质疑的习惯便是哲学思维的引擎。
In Year 7, your teacher will encourage you to be curious and to wonder. You will not be expected to have all the answers — in fact, philosophers often find that asking better questions is more important than finding final answers. The goal is to learn how to explore ideas deeply and to enjoy the process of inquiry.
在七年级，你的老师会鼓励你保持好奇，学会惊奇。你并不需要知道所有答案——事实上，哲学家们常常发现，提出更好的问题比找到最终答案更为重要。目标是学会如何深入探索想法，并享受探究的过程。
4. Core Skills: Reasoning and Argument | 核心技能：推理与论证
Reasoning is the process of moving from reasons or evidence to a conclusion. In philosophy, you will learn to recognise when reasoning is strong and when it is weak. For example, if someone says ‘All birds can fly, and a penguin is a bird, so penguins can fly’, you will spot the mistake and explain why.
推理是从理由或证据推导出结论的过程。在哲学中，你将学会识别什么时候推理是强有力的，什么时候是薄弱的。例如，有人说 ‘所有的鸟都会飞，企鹅是鸟，所以企鹅会飞’，你就会发现其中的错误并解释原因。
An argument is not just a disagreement; it is a structured set of statements aimed at proving a point. You will practise building your own arguments and examining those of others. This skill will help you write better essays in many subjects and make more convincing cases in discussions.
论证并不仅仅是意见分歧；它是一组有条理的陈述，旨在证明一个观点。你将练习构建自己的论证，并审视他人的论证。这项技能将帮助你在许多科目中写出更好的文章，并在讨论中做出更有说服力的论证。
5. Branches of Philosophy: A First Look | 哲学分支初探
Philosophy covers many different areas, but in Year 7 you will mainly meet four central branches: Ethics (questions about right and wrong), Epistemology (questions about knowledge), Metaphysics (questions about reality), and Logic (the study of correct reasoning). Each branch gives you a new lens through which to examine the world.
哲学涵盖许多不同的领域，但在七年级，你将主要接触到四个核心分支：伦理学（关于对与错的问题）、认识论（关于知识的问题）、形而上学（关于实在的问题）和逻辑学（正确推理的研究）。每一个分支都给你提供了一个审视世界的新视角。
Don’t worry about memorising these terms immediately — you will learn them naturally as you work through different topics. For now, just remember that philosophy is like a big tree with many branches, and Year 7 is your chance to climb up and start exploring.
不必急着立刻记住这些术语——随着你学习不同主题，你将自然而然地掌握它们。目前只需记住，哲学就像一棵拥有众多枝干的大树，而七年级就是你爬上去开始探索的机会。
6. Famous Thought Experiments | 著名的思想实验
Philosophers love to use thought experiments — imaginary scenarios that help us test our ideas. One famous example is the Ship of Theseus: if every part of a ship is slowly replaced, is it still the same ship? This makes us think about identity and change. Such puzzles are a fun way to sharpen your thinking.
哲学家喜欢使用思想实验——帮助我们检验观点的虚拟情景。一个著名的例子是忒修斯之船：如果一艘船的每一个部件都慢慢被替换，它还是原来那条船吗？这让我们思考同一性和变化的问题。这类谜题是磨炼思维的有趣方式。
In your Year 7 class, you will encounter thought experiments like the Trolley Problem (should you sacrifice one to save many?) and Plato’s Cave (are we seeing reality or just shadows?). You will be asked to discuss what you would do and why, which helps you apply philosophical ideas to real-life dilemmas.
在你的七年级课堂上，你会遇到电车难题（你应该牺牲一人以拯救多人吗？）和柏拉图洞穴（我们看到的是实在还是仅仅是影子？）等思想实验。你将被要求讨论你会怎么做以及为什么，这有助于你将哲学观念应用到现实困境中。
7. Ethics: Right and Wrong | 伦理学：对与错
Ethics asks how we should treat other people and what it means to live a good life. In Year 7, you will explore questions like ‘Is it always wrong to steal?’ and ‘Should we help others even when it is hard?’. You will learn about different ethical theories, such as the idea that the right action is the one that produces the most happiness.
伦理学追问我们应该如何对待他人，以及过一种好的生活意味着什么。在七年级，你将探讨 ‘偷窃总是错的吗？’ 和 ‘即使困难也应该帮助他人吗？’ 等问题。你将了解不同的伦理理论，比如认为正确的行为就是带来最大幸福的那个想法。
You will also discuss the difference between facts and values. While science can tell us what is the case, ethics helps us decide what we ought to do. This is a powerful distinction that will help you think more clearly about moral debates in the news and in your own life.
你还将讨论事实与价值之间的区别。科学可以告诉我们实际情况是怎样的，而伦理学则帮助我们决定我们应当做什么。这是一个重要的区分，能帮助你在新闻中的道德辩论以及你自己的生活中更清晰地思考。
8. Epistemology: How Do We Know? | 认识论：我们如何知道？
Epistemology is the study of knowledge and belief. It asks: What does it mean to know something? Can we trust our senses? How do you know you are not dreaming right now? These questions might seem strange, but they help you understand the limits of human knowledge.
认识论是关于知识和信念的研究。它追问：知道某事意味着什么？我们能相信自己的感官吗？你怎么知道你现在不是在做梦？这些问题可能显得古怪，但它们帮助你理解人类知识的限度。
In class, you will explore the difference between believing something and knowing it. For instance, you might believe it will rain tomorrow because you saw a forecast, but do you genuinely know it? Learning to examine your own certainty is a valuable part of becoming a careful thinker.
在课堂上，你将探索相信某事与知道某事之间的区别。例如，你可能因为看了天气预报而相信明天会下雨，但你真的知道吗？学会审视自己的确定性是成为严谨思考者的宝贵一环。
9. Metaphysics: What is Real? | 形而上学：什么是真实的？
Metaphysics deals with the fundamental nature of reality. It asks questions about time, space, existence, and whether we have free will. Although these topics can sound very abstract, Year 7 students often find them fascinating once they are linked to everyday examples, such as asking whether numbers really exist or whether colours are in objects or in our minds.
形而上学处理现实的根本性质。它提出关于时间、空间、存在以及我们是否拥有自由意志的问题。虽然这些话题听起来很抽象，但一旦将它们与日常例子联系起来，七年级学生往往会觉得它们非常迷人，比如问问数字是否真的存在，或者颜色是在物体中还是在我们的心灵中。
You do not need to memorise complicated theories. Instead, you will engage in activities that invite you to imagine alternative worlds or to consider what would remain if everything physical disappeared. This helps you appreciate that some questions have no easy answers, yet they are worth thinking about.
你不需要记忆复杂的理论。相反，你将参与一些活动，让你想象其他可能的世界，或者思考如果所有物质的东西都消失了，还会剩下什么。这有助于你理解有些问题没有简单的答案，但它们仍然值得思考。
10. Logical Thinking in Practice | 实践中的逻辑思维
Logic is the backbone of philosophical reasoning. In Year 7, you will not be expected to learn formal symbols, but you will practise identifying patterns of good and bad reasoning. You will learn to spot common fallacies — mistakes in reasoning that can make bad arguments sound convincing.
逻辑是哲学推理的支柱。在七年级，不要求你学习形式符号，但你会练习识别好的和坏的推理模式。你将学会发现常见的谬误——那些能让糟糕的论证听起来有说服力的推理错误。
For example, an ‘ad hominem’ fallacy attacks the person instead of the argument. If someone says ‘You are wrong because you are just a child’, they are committing this fallacy. Learning to name and avoid such mistakes makes you a better speaker, listener and writer.
例如，’人身攻击’ 谬误攻击的是人而不是论证。如果有人说 ‘你错了，因为你只是个孩子’，那他就犯了这种谬误。学会为这类错误命名并加以避免，会使你成为一个更出色的发言者、倾听者和写作者。
11. Preparing for Your First Philosophy Lessons | 为你的第一节哲学课做准备
To get ready for Year 7 Philosophy, start by practising the art of asking questions. When you read a story or watch a film, pause and ask yourself: What is the author trying to say? What would I have decided in that character’s place? Keeping a curiosity journal can be a great way to record your thoughts.
为了给七年级哲学课做好准备，可以开始练习提问的艺术。当你看一个故事或电影时，停下来问问自己：作者想要表达什么？如果我是那个角色，我会怎么决定？准备一本好奇心日记是记录想法的好方法。
It is also helpful to talk about philosophical ideas with your family or friends. Try discussing a simple ethical question at dinner, like ‘Should we always tell the truth?’. Listen carefully to their reasons and see if you can explain why you agree or disagree. This will build your confidence in speaking and reasoning aloud.
与家人或朋友讨论哲学观念也很有帮助。试着在晚餐时讨论一个简单的伦理问题，比如 ‘我们是否应该永远说真话？’。仔细倾听他们的理由，看看你能否解释自己为什么同意或不同意。这将增强你大声说话和推理的自信心。
12. Final Tips for Success | 成功的最后提示
Approach your Philosophy lessons with an open mind and a willingness to be wrong. Philosophy is not about winning arguments, but about growing in understanding. The best students are those who listen carefully, think before they speak, and are not afraid to change their views when presented with good reasons.
以开放的心态和愿意犯错的态度来对待你的哲学课。哲学不是要赢论证，而是在理解中成长。最好的学生是那些仔细倾听、先思考再发言，并且在面对好的理由时不害怕改变观点的人。
Remember that every big thinker was once a beginner. Your Year 7 journey is the starting point for a lifetime of curious thinking. Enjoy the discussions, ask bold questions, and always keep wondering. Welcome to the world of philosophy — it will change the way you see everything.
记住，每一位大思想家都曾是初学者。你的七年级之旅是一生好奇思维的起点。享受讨论，提出大胆的问题，并始终保持好奇。欢迎来到哲学的世界——它将改变你看待一切的方式。
Published by TutorHao | Philosophy Revision Series | aleveler.com
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