John Lachs - Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Professor: John Lachs

Department: Philosophy

College: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL3603
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Philosophy of Education has no readings, you just show up to lecture and have a discussion based on a topic of the professor's choosing (attendance is not mandatory). 100% of your final grade in the class is based on an arbitrary project that you pick and decide the grade for. Lachs is a really cool guy and has a lot of experience in the field.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 294A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took a class in Communism, Fascism and Democracy (special topic) around 1980 from him. He was very popular and inspiring.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL1005
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Lachs is hands down the greatest professor I have ever had. He quite literally changed my life and my outlook on it. The class is tough and the papers require tons of thought, but it is so worth it. His lectures were the highlight of my week. He always has incredible TAs who are willing to help you revise your paper or explain a philosophy.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL105
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Lachs is one of my favorite professors. He cares about his students, encourages questions and makes everyone feel comfortable in a lecture setting, and loves making jokes in class. He makes complicated ideas clear and easy to understand. The grading consists of 3 papers, participation in discussion, service hours, and an easy final.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 105
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Lachs is incredible. I've taken multiple classes with him, starting with ethics 105 my freshman year. I ended up taking 3 more classes with him (philosophy of education and 2 independent studies). Here's the down low... Pros: he's an incredible person. kind, relaxed, intelligent, all around good person. Cons: none. honestly, he's the best

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Class is ridiculously easy. You don't have to show up to classes, and approximately a third of the class doesn't anyway. There's a good amount of assigned reading, which is generally unnecessary and can mostly be replaced by Wikipedia. There are some long papers, but since they are the only grades in the class, it's not too bad. Great lecturer.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Lachs changed the way that I view the world - he's incredible. Lectures aren't mandatory, but if you don't go, you're missing out. Sometimes students ruin lecture with bad questions, but Lachs rebounds fairly well. Grades depend upon your TA and your knowledge and engagement with the material.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof.Lachs is why you come to Vanderbilt. He is a fantastic prof, who is brilliant and enjoys teaching. The class's easiness depends entirely on your TA, and the lectures aren't required. But if you go and pay attention, you can learn a lot. Though it can be boring at times. My TA was amazing too, Amy Mckiernnan, take her if possible!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Lachs is fantastic! His lectures are thought-provoking and interesting. However, you really have to read the books to know what is going on. Dr. Lachs will answer any of your questions and is amazingly helpful. I loved going to his lectures. However, be careful picking your TA section, do NOT take it with Darla Migan. She is terrible.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Lachs is the man. Knows so much, is passionate about the subject, and is incredibly willing to help out his students. The truth is, however, class is not necessary whatsoever, only go to TA sessions. Make sure you go over your papers with your TA before handing them in; only other grade is the final, lachs goes over all answers a week before...

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof Lachs' lectures aren't really structured and most people ended up on Facebook during class if they came to class at all. The class isn't really hard, but it's also difficult to learn much from lectures so you have to study the material a lot on your own to do well. A lot of how much you get out of this class depends on who you have as a TA.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL2001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I am an alum who graduated in 1981. Dr. Lachs still occupies my thoughts to this day. I went to him for advice when I was on the verge of leaving Vanderbilt and taking a dead-end service job. Expecting him to tell me what to do, he used his knowledge to philosophically help me figure it out on my own. He kept me from making a grave mistake.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL105
• 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. Lachs is the man. He is one of the most thoughtful people out there, and really is passionate about what he teaches. The material in this class can be daunting if not learned properly, but his teaching makes it crystal clear. 2 papers, term paper and final is all the work. Little breakdown section on friday is interesting too

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL228
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is why you pay $50,000 to come to a school like Vanderbilt

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL228
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This is the second class I've taken with Lachs (after 105/ethics, and I just cannot say enough good things about him! His lectures are really engaging, and his sense of humor is a great asset. He really challenges students to think critically and have fun, lively discussion as they do so. Don't leave Vandy without taking one of his classes.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL105
• 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:

Great lecturer and very entertaining. Learned a lot more than I expected. The workload is relatively light, but grades depend on your TA. Most of the grade consists of papers, and re-writes are encouraged. Class discussion sections focus on different topics in ethics such as medical ethics.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Excellent lecturer. He is very entertaining and obviously cares about his subject. Student's grades are entirely dependent on who their TA is (and some of the TA's are great). This class is a great way to fulfill an AXLE requirement

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Quite simply the most entertaining professor at Vanderbilt. Your grade is entirely dependent upon which discussion section you're in and who your TA is, but the lectures are fantastic. He's a truly talented, and hilarious man, who has a deep knowledge and love of and for philosophy.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class was a piece of cake! You can either go to class or read the really dense books. I went to class and never read books, just generalized on papers and got quotes. Grading depends on your TA but everything is given to you so it;s not bad at all. TAKE IT

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL108
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I love this class!!! It was one of the most interesting classes I've EVER takin at Vandy....if at all possible, you should DEFINATELY take him.