Martin Thomson-Jones - Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH

Professor: Martin Thomson-Jones

Department: Philosophy

College: Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL208
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There is no way to begin. This man has caused me extreme anguish by being in his class. He is constantly putting down the opinion of others and lacks the social cues to pick up that people don't want to listen to him talk all the time. He is also constantly putting other people down- even when they are asking a question. I despise him.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor at Oberlin. I'm a major, and his Deductive Logic class is the only philosophy class that I have ever taken that I haven't enjoyed. Very self-important and pretentious.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A very clear lecturer. He's pedantic (and knows it), which you'll either find endearing (like me) or annoying. Unexpectedly hilarious at times--would do well in stand-up comedy. Usually showed up 5 min. late to class/let out 5 min. late, but seemed harried/sleep-deprived, so I forgave him. Deserves a chili pepper if only for his absurdly blue eyes.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

In deductive logic, he takes great care to be as clear and straightforward as possible. Always available to help during office hours; lectures are paced perfectly. Show up to class and be willing to start your problem sets well ahead of time, and this class will be enjoyable. Cracks some hilarious, (sometimes self-deprecating) jokes as well.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a great class if you like lectures. There's a moderate amount of readings, and they're really interesting. Don't take this class if you just want to talk about the universe and why we're here. It's more about what philosophers thought in the past. You don't really get much room for creativity.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are pretty dry, and asking questions isn't a fantastic idea, he generally ends up just going on a tangent that's mostly unrelated. He grades harshly, and doesn't always include explanations as to why you got the grade you did. His study sheets for exams are misleading.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is absolutely my most hated professor at Oberlin so far. The material that we cover in class is interesting, but the way he teaches it is like having a railroad spike driven through your head, until you realize you can take your laptop to class to type the powerpoint notes, and in between that, use AIM or play a game. Never take his classes.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst teacher ever. Wish someone had warned me before I took the class. Topic is interesting, but what's the use when the professor doesn't let the students participate? The so-called "discussion days" are Q&A days for the students to ask the professor questions, no discussion/debate whatsoever. Don't take his classes, seriously.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took 4 classes with MJ and received A's in all of them. He was also my major advisor. Nevertheless, this tool wouldn't write me a recommendation for law school (someone else did and I got in). Good thing Oberlin doesn't need my alumni money - they'll never get another dime from me thanks to Martin Jones.

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

very intelligent guy with a high level of clarity in his lectures. Provides helpful comments on papers (though he takes a while to hand them back). Not on time often. Definitely the most articulate Professor i've had and also one of the most knowledgable. Not the most humble of profs, but if you want top-notch discussions, take a class with him.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Thomson-Jones combines a characteristically British teaching style with his phenomenal dickishness to form a uniquely oppressive atmosphere.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL999
• 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 took many MJ classes and found him engaging, pleasant, and extremely bright. Beyond that, he's also clever, which comes in handy on esoteric topics. He's not warm-and-fuzzy (what Brit is?), but if you want good conversation about things that aren't meant to relate to your everyday life, he's the guy. He's also just plain old entertaining.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were clear but he rambles on too much which slows down the pace of the class. Very charming man who grades papers leniently as long as you've got the style down. Only went to about half the classes and got an A.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: LOGIC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I had him his first year. Hopefully he has improved. Out of touch with students. Very bold to the point of sometimes insulting. Not very helpful in one-on-one.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

always found his lectures extremely clear, and his comments on your papers are VERY extensive and helpful. a real charmer to boot

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I took a few courses with Jones and, honestly, he just came off as a pompus professor. He is narrowly analytic, so please don't think of asking questions about the rest of the philosophical cannon. It is best to take deductive logic with him (because he cannot adjust the score), but his other classes are graded based on his personal opinion.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

My test average in Deductive Logic was a 61 and that got me a B+, and I don't know anyone in the class who didn't need a tutor. He's very charming, but he's not a good teacher, he never hands things back on time and he's not sympathetic to confused students.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL6363
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I've taken a couple of classes with Martin Jones, and though his philosophical interests unfortunately tend towards the more epistemic end of things, I still think he's great, really sweat, a fair grader, and at least as hot as his wife (dammit).