Aaron J. James - University of California Irvine

Professor: Aaron J. James

Department: Philosophy

College: University of California Irvine

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL4
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took his class in spring 2017 and I really liked it. His lectures were alright but the actual class content was interesting if you're into this philosophical thinking. Likes to talk about surfing a lot and relates it to the lectures. No tests, just papers. If you genuinely like learning about this stuff, it's an easy A.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL04
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Boring professor. One of the few good things about this class was that the final was take-home, but it was graded semi harshly. Overall the workload was not to bad, but you do need to understand the readings well to do well on the essays. Your grade is also based on participation and attendance, which sucks.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL4
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Material was boring. Several readings assigned every week. It's best to read them the week they're assigned so you don't cram everything during week 10. Take-home final has a lot of short essay questions based on the readings. 2 midterm papers are annoying because TA's are typically tough graders.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

GO TO DISCUSSION!!! his lectures are BORING and sometimes confusing, and goes off on tangents that are hard to discern from the actual topic. TAs grade everything, so make sure you get a good one. Class isn't difficult, only 2 papers and a take home final, just make sure you do well on those.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I came into this class thinking it would be interesting, but it was sadly boring if you're not into philosophy. Your essay grades are determined by your TA, and mine wasn't good at explaining how to write an essay specifically for philosophy and graded too harshly without clear criteria. But Professor James makes lectures funny and engaging.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL5
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Mandatory attendance since there's a sign-in sheet. Lectures are dull, but he laughs a lot at his own jokes which makes me laugh too. Class was straightforward and easy. All readings are provided via online PDFs. One 3-page paper, one 5-page paper, and a take-home final which were about 14 short answer questions on all the assigned readings.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHILOSOPHY4
• 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:

Only nice thing was not having to buy books. I can't pay attention in class, he plays the worst Devil's Advocate ever, and frankly I can't stand coming to this class. You basically have to understand the reading yourself. Don't take his class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLPHIL
• 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:

Took his class while he was a visiting professor at NYU. Very laid back and wants his students to understand and be interested in the material. He relates the subject well to everyday life. Definitely recommend him!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

On the contrary to most,I thought the professor was pretty funny and unattractive. He likes what he teaches and makes the class fairly interesting. Make sure to take good notes in lecture, do the readings and go to discussion. My TA was very helpful when explaining the material.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHI132
• 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:

Very hard grader. He challenges you to challenge him when your writing an essay, often he wins. He tries to be funny, but hardly anything is funny. He does many political jokes. Boring lectures. Don't take this class if you want an elective. 2 essays and one take home final. Plus mandatory attendance.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Lucky to have studied at Harvard, what he teaches does not reflect his elite education.Another ivy league arrogant professor not committed to public education!He teaches the same courses every year about luck.Lectures are mandatory otherwise one would not attend at all.Good luck to all phil. majors with your education

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHILO4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take this class unless you're actually a philo major. I was interested in learning philo before, but now I'm like o.o'????? all the time. TAs grade the papers; mine is really harsh/tough. Even for an intro class my TA is extremely particular on understanding the material 100%. Hardest class I've ever taken.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHILO130
• 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:

Very intelligent man. One of my favorite professors. 2 essays and a take home final. If you go to every lecture and take good notes, essays are easy to write. James is also very helpful. I recommend this class if you want an easy B+/A-

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Meh. Okay. Good guy. Pretty boring class though.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

very engaging professor, two essays and a final, if you're interested in philosophy I highly recommend; if you don't like philosophy, you will be bored, take something else that will interest you

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHILO103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The TA did all of the grading, so as long as the TA is chill, grades aren't too hard. We had 3 papers and a take home final. He posts lecture notes online, so make sure to check those. I didn't do any reading all quarter and I did well in the class. Also, attendance is mandatory in lecture and discussion, so sign in.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHILO4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

First off, attendance is mandatory BUT... some of you will figure out that most of us just sign in and then leave. Who cares? Or just sit there and nap. Notes and books are online. No need to buy anything. Two papers and a TAKE HOME final. Be nice to your TAs they grade EVERYTHING. and yes, this man is hot.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I came into the class thinking it would be interesting but it's not. I will never take another philosophy class again. Your grade depends on your TA. My TA was the hardest grader out of all of them :( You get 2 papers and a take home final. Don't take the class if you're not a good writer because I'm managing C but it depends on TA also

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

people sleeping everywhere. doesnt explain things well. the class is only 50 minutes long but seems like hours. if you have no background of philosophy DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS. this class ruined philosophy for me and thanks to aaron james i never want to take a philosophy class agian.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His class is very boring. There are so many times that I just want to go to sleep. There were only 2 good lectures that he had that kept me awake. He is not funny and tends to laugh at himself. His lectures are hard to follow cause he's not very good at explaining and he is boring.