Mark Hinchliff - Reed College, Portland, OR

Professor: Mark Hinchliff

Department: Philosophy

College: Reed College, Portland, OR

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

My aunt died the day before my turn to present in his class, I flew out to attend her funeral and emailed Mark saying I wouldn't be able to come, and to let me know if there's anything I should do while away. He never responded, and when I got back he threatened to fail me for missing the presentation. Smart witty guy, but bizarrely unkind.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MANY101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Mark really cares about his students. He will spend countless hours giving feedback, giving advice on graduate school, graduate applications, etc. His lectures are fantastic. I still refer back to my lecture notebooks from years ago in preparation for graduate seminars If you're interested in a Ph.D. in Philosophy, have him as your thesis adviser

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Unreasonable. Rude. Teaching mediocre at best.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POL203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Mark really is a professor you either love or hate. He can be incredibly crystal clear some days and very obtuse on others. I believe he is a reasonable professor. However--and I'll repeat however--I have never met someone who called themselves a teacher who was as condescending and rude as Mark was.

Rating # 5

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Although Mark may seem intimidating at first, he is overwhelmingly and genuinely kind to his students. As others have noted, Mark is the clearest and overall best professor in the department (i.e. one minute in Mark's lectures an entire semester in other philosophy classes). His classes pay off if you pay attention. Also, the Elvis jokes!!!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: META202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

In my experience, both of the characterizations of Hinchliff are true. He is stuck in an old man vendetta against continental philosophy. He demands you think using the same methods he does and that your papers be how he likes them. He will be merciless if you don't. That said, if you feel the analytical vibes he can teach you a lot.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL400
• 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:

His classes are amazing. He is probably one of the best professors at Reed. If you know your****, he'll respect you and you'll learn a ton. If you know where you're losing him in an argument, he can be extremely helpful. That being said, if you have an ego and pretend to know more than you do, he'll take you down.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL220
• 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:

Clearest Professor I've ever experienced, which is amazing considering the topics we were discussing -- he actually made Wittgenstein understandable. He's in his own world, if you ask him about his time here at Reed as a student he opens up. If you want to talk in class, make sure you know what you're talking about.

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Mark is an incredible professor. Definitely an intimidating dude, but he's ridiculously brilliant, lucid, and helpful if you put in a little effort. If you think Philosophy is something you might ever want to do, TAKE HIS CLASSES! You will learn so, so much.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL410
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He usually makes the students drive discussion. One parent's weekend, my mom was in conference (400-level on Frege, at that point covering the crux of his arguments). Mark steered the boat that day, and not only did everyone learn the hardest parts, even my mom asked some intelligent questions. This site should have an "eleven" setting for clarity.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL202
• 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:

Truly awesome prof. Contrary to his reputation for being tough with kids, in my office hours he often patiently listened to my various dismissals of analytical phil tenets, and responded with crystal clear, correct rebuttals of my all my points. A prof who will respond to sincere students with enthusiasm, even if they're wasting his time.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL310
• 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:

The man is an inspiration and single-handedly worth the 40K a year you or your parents are otherwise blowing at Reed. He has more horses under the hood than anyone I have ever met, and is responsible for me choosing Phil. as a major. The man knows how to run a lecture. Go to every class and write down everything he says.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL310
• 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:

To be honest, I hated the man after the first class I took with him. It was the only class I made sure to pass just to spite the instructor. I've had four classes with him now and I truly appreciate him as an instructor. Yes, he can shut down students who are ****ting, but he's been doing it less and he will try to clarify things.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Mark is not an easy prof. It is refreshing to have a prof who will actually put kids in their place when they deserve it. He is very good at explaining complicated concepts simply and directing conference discussions. But he will crush you if he thinks you deserve it. It is good.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Mark was my favorite phil prof back when I was at Reed (in the late 90s). He a spectacular professor and an original mind. My two favorite Hinchliff characteristics: he can explain anything and he'll put you in your place without hesitation if he thinks you're ****ting or blowing wind.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hero worship can be blind. There are good ways to run a conference and make all students feel part of it and there are bad ways.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Mark is terrific. In line with what several others on this site have mentioned, my professors in graduate school can't hold a candle to him. And yes, he's hard on you if you don't think before speaking, if you're not taking the class seriously, or if you're obviously an arrogant show-off (of which there are many in philosophy). More power to him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Mark is the best professor in the whole entire world. And I have no doubt that the people on this website who describe him as "cruel", "bitter", "unfair", etc are probably pretentious morons who spent too much time trying to show off and not enough time paying attention to all the amazing things he has to say.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ETHICS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Cruel. Unclear. Perhaps I'm a moron, but he was the only professor to make me cry.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

One of the best professor in my undergrad career - and in taking grad level courses, I am nostalgic for his clarity and willingness to "drive" discussion. But yes, take the hint and keep your mouth shut unless you've got something good.