David Denby - Tufts University, Medford, MA

Professor: David Denby

Department: Philosophy

College: Tufts University, Medford, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL024
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I absolutely loved professor Denby. Intro to Ethics gave me such a break with all my econ/math heavy classes. Professor Denby is really good at explaining difficult concepts with intuitive examples and is hilarious. I wish I had more time at Tufts left to take another class with him.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL39
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This is my second semester with Denby and I rave about him to anyone who will listen. I came into Tufts undecided and after two classes with him, I'm seriously considering a philosophy major. His lectures are clear and he makes them interesting with little jokes. The concepts can be a bit hard to grasp but he is super helpful. He's the best.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL024
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Denby is one of those professors who can make listening to a lecture every class actually interesting and engaging. He delivers complex philosophical theories in coherent and meaningful ways to students and cares immensely about his class. Take a class with him and you will not regret it.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL024
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Denby makes a ton of dad jokes during lecture, but overall he's a really great professor. Really accessible outside of class and generous with extensions.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Denby is a brilliant, witty and fun professor. He really knows the content and actively tries to get students to participate. Asks interesting questions. Papers are graded for phil concepts, not 5 paragraph essay form. Metaphysics is tedious, but it was a great class and I wish I could take more with him. Go to lecture. Easy grader.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Incredibly clear and straightforward lectures and essay topics. The four essays are graded very fairly, and he is more than willing to help you with concepts or to improve your writing. His British wit helps make dry topics more interesting. If Denby's available as a professor for intro to philosophy, take it with him.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL0033
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Very straightforward, clear about what he wants. He makes the homework challenging but also a lenient grader. Great sense of humor as well.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL33
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

The class was at a good pace. He was very good at answering questions and clearing up misunderstandings.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL33
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Very clear and interesting. Does his best to deliver content beyond the syllabus, and does a great job of being accessible and helpful. Took logic with him; highly recommend it. And some pretty classic British humor to keep things light

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

My favorite professor at Tufts. Easily approachable, humorous and crystal clear in his expectations. You learn a lot from his classes and papers, but the work is more than manageable.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 0024
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Denby is an incredibly engaging professor with total mastery of the subject. If you are interested in philosophy (especially on an introductory level), the topics will keep you engaged. Make sure to stop by his office hours, it is absolutely worth your time.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL24
• Grade Received: Audit/No Grade
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I took the course PassFail. The TAs are mainly the people who decide your grade because they are the ones grading your paper. Grades consisted of only papers - no tests, no participation, no attendance.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL24
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Overall a good professor and very clear in lectures. He takes a while to explain each topic, but he stays on point so you really get it. He's sort of a funny guy and tries hard to make lecture interesting by encouraging participation. The grade is completely based on a few essays. Take it if you want to learn some ethics but be graded on writing.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL0043
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

If you're not really interested in the course material, his lectures can be boring at times. The papers themselves are straightforward if you follow exactly what the TA describes. Reading is incredibly optional (but do some while you write the paper).

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ETHICS33
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Denby is one of the best professors at Tufts. He is clear, gives great lectures, and knows the material incredibly well. Everyone should take a class with him even if you aren't particularly interested in philosophy.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Prof. Denby is witty (British humor), interested and interesting, and provides very clear explanations of abstract philosophical concepts. I would highly recommend this professorâ€"he is one of the best lecturers I've had at Tufts.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Amazing amazing professor! Denby is witty, funny, and extremely personal. For an intro phil class (took for eng 2) I learned so much about analyzing arguments. Provides you with all info needed to complete papers and allows you to pretty much write on whatever has been discussed in class. Highly recommend, don't miss out taking a class with Denby.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL024
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

You don't have to like philosophy to take Denby's classes; his enthusiasm lights up the most boring of subjects. Lots of discussion for a large lecture class, and most of it is interesting. The papers are easy, and the class is clearly organized. Watch out for Denby's morbid sense of humor though - it will come up when you least expect it.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PS43
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Denby is a great lecturer. Pay extra attention to the outlines he provides on Trunk, as they will help with notes organization. Take LOTS of notes and you will have all the info for the papers, which are the ONLY grades. (3 or 4). If you aren't interested in the subject matter, you will get a little bored.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL43
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

good overall teacher. his classes are usually the whole grade based on 4 papers... this is good in some ways but I had a a hard time with the first one, it would have been better to have some more guidance. but he really covers the material well if you can stay interested in class