IB Philosophy Topics: Full List

This article gives you a clear, student-friendly overview of all the IB Philosophy topics you could be examined on at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL). It explains how the course is organised, sets out the core theme and optional themes you may study, and shows how each part links to your exam papers and Internal Assessment.

Key Takeaways

• IB Philosophy has a shared core theme that all students study, plus optional themes chosen by your school.

• SL students study one optional theme, while HL students study two, plus an HL extension topic.

• All students study one prescribed philosophical text, which is assessed in Paper 2.

• You can use this topic list to clarify your exam coverage, identify gaps in your knowledge, and prioritise revision.

Why It’s Important to Know Your IB Diploma Level

In IB Philosophy (opens in a new tab), the topics you study are broadly the same for everyone, but what you cover in depth depends on whether you take the subject at Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL).

Knowing your IB Diploma level matters because it affects:

• How many optional themes you study

  • SL: one optional theme

  • HL: two optional themes

• Whether you take an extra exam paper

  • HL students also study the extension topic Philosophy and Contemporary Issues, assessed in Paper 3.

Understanding your level helps you plan your revision more accurately, focus on the right topics, and prepare for the papers you will actually sit.

For a full breakdown of the differences between IB Standard Level and Higher Level across subjects, see our IB Standard vs Higher Level guide.

IB Philosophy Topics (SL & HL)

These are the official topics studied in IB Philosophy. The topics are the same for SL and HL students. However, there is one key difference: HL students study one extra optional theme and the HL extension topic.

Core Theme (studied by everyone)

Being Human

All IB Philosophy students study this core theme. 

You will explore philosophical questions about what it means to be human and how we understand ourselves. Students typically consider:

• Personal identity and the self

  • What makes you the same person over time?

  • Whether identity depends on memory, consciousness, or physical continuity

• Mind and body

  • The relationship between mental states (thoughts, feelings, consciousness) and the physical brain

  • Whether the mind is something separate from the body, or fully dependent on it

• Free will and determinism

  • Whether humans are genuinely free to make choices, or whether our actions are shaped by biology, psychology, or social factors

  • How ideas about free will connect to responsibility and moral accountability

• Human nature and society

  • How much of who we are is innate, and how much is shaped by culture, upbringing, and relationships

  • Whether there is a fixed “human nature” or whether humans are fundamentally shaped by their context

Optional Themes (chosen by your school)

Schools select which optional themes you will study.

• SL students study one optional theme.

• HL students study two optional themes.

Currently, the official options are:

Aesthetics

In Aesthetics, you explore philosophical questions about art, beauty, and taste. You typically consider:

• what makes something a work of art, and whether intention or context matters

• whether judgements about beauty can be objective or are purely subjective

• how art relates to emotion, meaning, and human experience

Epistemology

Epistemology focuses on questions about knowledge and belief. Students usually examine:

• what it means to “know” something, and how this differs from simply believing it

• the role of evidence, perception, and reason in forming knowledge

• whether certainty is possible, or whether all knowledge is ultimately fallible

Ethics

Ethics investigates how people ought to act and what makes actions right or wrong. Common areas of focus include:

• different moral theories, such as consequentialist, deontological, and virtue-based approaches

• questions about moral responsibility and whether circumstances can justify harmful actions

• how ethical ideas apply to real-world issues such as justice, punishment, or inequality

Philosophy of Religion

This theme examines philosophical questions about religious belief and practice. Students often consider:

• arguments for and against the existence of God

• whether religious language can meaningfully describe the divine

• how reason, faith, and experience interact in religious belief

Philosophy of Science

In Philosophy of Science, you analyse how scientific knowledge is produced and justified. Typical issues include:

• what counts as scientific evidence and how theories are tested

• whether scientific knowledge is objective or shaped by human values and perspectives

• how scientific theories change over time and whether progress in science is linear

Political Philosophy

Political Philosophy explores ideas about power, rights, and the organisation of society. You usually study:

• the role of the state and the justification of political authority

• competing ideas about freedom, equality, and justice

• debates about individual rights versus the common good

Social Philosophy

Social Philosophy focuses on how societies function and how people relate to one another. Key areas include:

• the nature of social relationships and collective responsibility

• questions about power, inequality, and social justice

• how institutions and cultural norms shape individual identity and behaviour

Across all optional themes, you analyse philosophical arguments, compare different viewpoints, and apply ideas to real-world issues.

Prescribed Philosophical Text (studied by everyone)

All students study one prescribed philosophical text chosen by their school from the IB’s official list. Examples of texts that have appeared on this list include:

Plato – The Republic (selections)
Explores justice, the nature of the good, and the relationship between the individual and the state, including the famous Allegory of the Cave.

René Descartes – Meditations on First Philosophy (selections)
Focuses on scepticism, knowledge, and the relationship between mind and body, including the famous “I think, therefore I am.”

John Locke – An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (selections)
Examines personal identity, memory, and how knowledge is acquired through experience.

David Hume – An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (selections)
Challenges assumptions about causation and explores the limits of human knowledge.

Lao Tzu – Tao Te Ching
Considers ideas about harmony, the nature of reality, and how humans should live in relation to the world.

Martha Nussbaum – The Fragility of Goodness (selections)
Engages with ethics, human flourishing, and the role of emotions in moral life.

Studying your chosen text involves close reading, detailed analysis of arguments, and understanding the work within its philosophical context. 

Your prescribed text is examined in Paper 2.

HL Extension Topic (HL only)

Philosophy and Contemporary Issues

HL students also study this extension topic. It focuses on applying philosophical reasoning to modern, real-world problems. In the exam, you’ll analyse and respond to an unseen philosophical passage related to a contemporary issue.

How IB Philosophy Is Assessed (SL vs HL)

What this means in practice

Paper 1 (SL & HL) tests your ability to explain ideas clearly and evaluate different viewpoints through extended response questions on topics you have studied.

• SL: Answer 2 questions

  • 1 stimulus-based question on Being Human (you analyse a short stimulus and use philosophy to respond)

  • 1 essay question on your optional theme

• HL: Answer 3 questions

  • 1 stimulus-based question on Being Human 

  • 2 essay questions on two different optional themes

Paper 2 (SL & HL): Your prescribed philosophical text

• Essay-based exam on the set text your school has chosen

• You are expected to show close understanding of the arguments in the text and evaluate them philosophically.

Paper 3 (HL only): Unseen text on contemporary issues

• You analyse an unseen philosophical passage linked to a modern issue

• This tests how well you can apply philosophical thinking to new material under exam conditions.

Internal Assessment (SL & HL): Philosophical analysis

• 2,000-word written analysis of a non-philosophical stimulus (for example, a news article, image, or speech)

• You identify relevant philosophical ideas and build your own sustained, reasoned argument.

How to Use Topic Lists for Revision

Used well, topic lists are a strong foundation for planning your revision and staying on track. Here’s how:

• Confirm your course options: Check which optional themes your school is teaching and which prescribed text you’re studying, so you can focus on what is actually examinable for you.

• Use the list as a checklist: Work through the core theme, your optional theme(s), and your prescribed text, and tick off topics once you feel confident explaining key ideas and arguments.

• Spot your weak areas early: Build extra time into your revision plan to work on any areas you struggle with.

• Practise by topic: After revising a theme, tackle exam-style questions that focus specifically on that area to test your understanding.

• Revise content and essay skills together: Philosophy rewards clear argument and evaluation, so practise structuring essays alongside learning key ideas.

Save My Exams has a range of IB revision notes, exam questions and study tools to support you throughout your IB journey. And explore our Learning Hub for more tips on effective revision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to revise all IB Philosophy topics for the exam?

Yes. You must revise the core theme (Being Human), your school’s chosen optional theme(s), and your prescribed philosophical text. 

If you are taking HL, you must also revise the HL extension topic (Philosophy and Contemporary Issues).

Are these topics the same across all schools?

The overall course structure is the same for everyone, but schools choose which optional theme(s) and prescribed text you study. 

This means your exact focus can differ from other students, even though you follow the same IB syllabus.

How do I know which topics I struggle with most?

Use the topic list as a checklist and track your confidence for each area. 

Try exam-style questions by topic, review your essays with your teacher, and note any patterns in where you lose marks, especially in analysis and evaluation.

Do all topics come up in every exam paper?

No. Paper 1 focuses on Being Human and your school’s chosen optional theme or themes. Paper 2 covers your prescribed text. Paper 3 (HL only) focuses on contemporary issues through an unseen text.

Final Thoughts

Knowing your IB Philosophy topics will help you to plan your revision programme and make every study session count.

Use the topic list as your roadmap: confirm your optional theme(s) and prescribed text, focus on your weak areas, and practise regularly with topic-based questions. If you do this consistently, you’ll feel more organised, more confident, and better prepared for your exams.

Save My Exams has a wide range of IB resources to support you throughout your Diploma Programme.

References:

• Diploma Programme (DP) - International Baccalaureate® (opens in a new tab)

• Philosophy in the DP - International Baccalaureate® (opens in a new tab)

• IBDP Subject Brief | Individuals and societies: Philosophy SL and HL (opens in a new tab)