William Irvine - Wright State University, Dayton, OH

Professor: William Irvine

Department: Philosophy

College: Wright State University, Dayton, OH

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHL200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I advise you not to take his class he talks down to you and thinks hes always right. thinks that your beliefs is wrong

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHL3000
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I like the guy. He can be quite abrasive, but I think that's because people love to be abrasive towards him. He brings up God a lot, but he is always open for discussion. We have a very religious girl in class who always argues, and he always listens and thanks her after class for her intelligent input. He really makes you think.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHL2100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

By far the worst philosophy professor in the department. Very condescending. The entire structure of class-verbal quizzes/subjective testing material is asinine and not conducive to learning. He encourages opinion and empty beliefs, giving very little philosophical content to lectures. Take his classes if you want to live out a nightmare.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHL3000
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely horrendous. If you like being talked down to and treated like a child than by all means take this class. Everything feels like a guessing game and most of the material is formatted in a way that makes no sense at all. Also if you don't enjoy public speaking avoid this class at all costs. There are much better online alternatives.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHI2100
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I went in with low expectations, but ended up really enjoying this class. He can be a tough grader, but if you study the review questions he gives you you'll do fine. If you're just looking for an easy blow-off class this isn't the class for you, but if you don't mind doing a little work, I really encourage you to take this class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHL2100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Although a tough grader, all the test questions are straight from the study questions. If you visit him during office hours and thoroughly read the articles he assigns, you'll definitely pass. Don't take this and expect an easy A. Must be a dedicated student.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHL3000
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really well taught class with good lectures and discussions. No textbook needed-he wrote his own outline which is well written and clear. tests are HARD but come straight from the outline. Don't skip class, do participate in discussions/ask questions. He loved people asking questions. I really enjoyed this professor.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHL3000
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You have to take verbal quizzes in front of the entire class. You have the articles but you do not know what articles he will question you on. He will give you around ten seconds to answer before he gives you a 0. I would avoid this guy at all cost. He is the worst Philosphy professor in the department. If you need this class, get someone else.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHL2230
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't take this class. He will force your participation for points and when you do answer correctly he will still undermine you and make you feel incorrect.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHL4710
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had heard semi-good things about this guy - I was very disappointed. The book for the class is *his* book that he wrote (which isn't even published yet btw), so he basically spends the whole class telling you that he's so very smart and if you have a different opinion, you're wrong. Also, if you have stage fright at all, avoid at all costs.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHL4710
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

May as well rename the class "Intro to Atheism." It's not a philosophy class. It's a science class, except he spends more time explaining the faults with creationism than teaching science. Tests are TF and short answer. I always find most TF questions to be trick questions and there are too many short answers to grade them as strictly as he does.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 4710
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Philosophy of Physical Science was required for my major and was one of the worst classes I've ever had. Irvine's lecture notes are formatted terribly and there is too much material for the tests. The only reason I passed was because of the daily quizzes, which are a third of your grade.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHL2230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

EXTREMELY CHALLENGING, but at the end, I felt very accomplished. You must be in every single class, I don't care what's going on in your life. If you miss class, it is IMPOSSIBLE to make up the work. *The secret of the is that the grade you get on the final determines your grade in the course.*

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHL4710
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

What a funny guy! He easily became one of my favs! His class was easy and interesting, though his tests are a bit tricky. He will expect you to remember a small detail covered briefly. This was a Philosophy of Science class that covered a qualitative reasoning credit. Though I wish there was more philosophy involved. It was great either way!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHL471
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Six page tests with 3 point essay questions such as: "Why were our ancestors in the Rift Valley of Africa presumably dark skinned 100,000 years ago?" I answered "To protect them from the sunlight" I however didn't say "UV rays cause cancer" so I got 1 out of 3 points. If you don't see him oustide of class you will fail.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHL323
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Irvine is one of my favorite professors. Logic isn't for everyone (which is unfortunate), but he's great at teaching anyone who isn't stupid.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHL223
• 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:

Great teacher, simply follow his method. He has each class planned out and has the art of teaching logic down to a science if you want to learn logic take this guy and follow his method

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHL223
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His thorough explanations during office hours are worth making the trip. He does make the class interesting because of his sense of humor. The books that he wrote ARE awesome.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHL215
• 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:

I really enjoyed him. He gave an outline for the class instead of requiring a textbook, which saved me money and let me mark the crap out of it. Go to class, take notes, and you should get an A. If you share his sense of humor, you'll enjoy the class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHL223
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a great professor! Very knowledgable and a wicked dry sense of humor. The class on the other hand is a nightmare! I loved it but had to really work at it. Do NOT miss a day or you will be lost. He will answer all questions, and help outside of class as much as you need. Stay on top of things, and you will make it through alive.