PHILOS 1
Beginnings of Western Philosophy
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Origins of Greek cosmology and philosophy, beginnings of systematic thought and scientific investigation concerning such questions as origin and nature of the material world, concept of laws of nature, possibility and extent of knowledge. Concentration on pre-Socratic philosophers, particularly Anaximander, Heraclitus, the Pythagoreans, Parmenides, Empedocles, and Greek atomists, during first two thirds of course and on Socrates and some earlier works of Plato in last few weeks. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
The lectures are quite boring, but they are informative. She tells you the important concepts from the readings, which is going to be on the exams. Its not a hard class because it is basically just memorizing what dead guys believed in. If you have any questions about lecture, she's nice to approach during her office hours. I would recommend you to take her for this course.
The lectures are quite boring, but they are informative. She tells you the important concepts from the readings, which is going to be on the exams. Its not a hard class because it is basically just memorizing what dead guys believed in. If you have any questions about lecture, she's nice to approach during her office hours. I would recommend you to take her for this course.
Most Helpful Review
[NOTE: I know it says that I took him for Philo 1, but I actually took him through my GE cluster (Mind over Matter) this year. The GE cluster was not one of the classes available on the drop down menu.] Professor Cumming isn't that bad of a guy... When he's not teaching. He's an absolute horrible lecturer. Goes off on completely random tangents, repeats himself constantly, can't formulate sentences that make sense. On the first day I had him, he was literally in the middle of explaining the mind-body problem when he suddenly remembers something and goes "Oh, by the way..." and then starts talking about how he doesn't put words on his PowerPoint (He really doesn't, it's all pictures. It's the worst - what kind of philosophy professor doesn't put words on the slides? It's PHILOSOPHY.). Then he launched into an entirely different discussion which consisted of his habits and how he does certain things, blah blah blah. He never finished his thought about the mind-body problem... The whole class was so confused by the end of lecture. I doubt we learned anything at all. It was terrible. Avoid him if you can. Again, nice guy. Awful teacher.
[NOTE: I know it says that I took him for Philo 1, but I actually took him through my GE cluster (Mind over Matter) this year. The GE cluster was not one of the classes available on the drop down menu.] Professor Cumming isn't that bad of a guy... When he's not teaching. He's an absolute horrible lecturer. Goes off on completely random tangents, repeats himself constantly, can't formulate sentences that make sense. On the first day I had him, he was literally in the middle of explaining the mind-body problem when he suddenly remembers something and goes "Oh, by the way..." and then starts talking about how he doesn't put words on his PowerPoint (He really doesn't, it's all pictures. It's the worst - what kind of philosophy professor doesn't put words on the slides? It's PHILOSOPHY.). Then he launched into an entirely different discussion which consisted of his habits and how he does certain things, blah blah blah. He never finished his thought about the mind-body problem... The whole class was so confused by the end of lecture. I doubt we learned anything at all. It was terrible. Avoid him if you can. Again, nice guy. Awful teacher.
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