PHILOS 153A
Topics in Ethical Theory: Normative Ethics
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisite: course 22. Study of selected topics in normative ethical theory. Topics may include human rights, virtues and vices, principles of culpability and praiseworthiness (criteria of right action). May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2016 - THIS REVIEW IS FOR PHILOSOPHY 22: This class did a very good job in introducing the realm of ethics, and did a very broad overview. Professor made the information easy to digest and understand, and the structure of this course was very easy and generous. I ended up going into the final with a 96%, but also, I ended up working my ass off on the essays. The class breakdown is 10% participation, 15% weekly worksheets, which you only need to complete 8/10 to get a 100% in the category, 15% first essay, 15% second essay, 20% midterm, and 25% final. I got a 95% for participation (missing one discussion), 100% on the weekly worksheet section, 93% on the first essay, 95% on the second essay, and 96% on the midterm. The final, in my opinion, was very easy, as long as you studied the study guide ahead of time and knew how to answer in short essay format. However, Professor Cross, in my opinion, acts like he's way too good for his students, and does not do a good job with students outside of class. He seems very detached and apathetic towards student learning and overall acts like a douchebag during office hours. He's very unapproachable, so my advice is to ask your TAs, because they do all of the grading anyways. Your TA should do a good job explaining and teaching the material. My TA, Jordan, was very capable and did an excellent job with answering questions. Overall, Cross was very good during lecture, so you shouldn't have a problem with a material, but is a total douchebag. I don't give a rat's ass how intelligent you are, but if you act so condescending with even the simplest question, you're a shitty instructor. Class is easy though.
Spring 2016 - THIS REVIEW IS FOR PHILOSOPHY 22: This class did a very good job in introducing the realm of ethics, and did a very broad overview. Professor made the information easy to digest and understand, and the structure of this course was very easy and generous. I ended up going into the final with a 96%, but also, I ended up working my ass off on the essays. The class breakdown is 10% participation, 15% weekly worksheets, which you only need to complete 8/10 to get a 100% in the category, 15% first essay, 15% second essay, 20% midterm, and 25% final. I got a 95% for participation (missing one discussion), 100% on the weekly worksheet section, 93% on the first essay, 95% on the second essay, and 96% on the midterm. The final, in my opinion, was very easy, as long as you studied the study guide ahead of time and knew how to answer in short essay format. However, Professor Cross, in my opinion, acts like he's way too good for his students, and does not do a good job with students outside of class. He seems very detached and apathetic towards student learning and overall acts like a douchebag during office hours. He's very unapproachable, so my advice is to ask your TAs, because they do all of the grading anyways. Your TA should do a good job explaining and teaching the material. My TA, Jordan, was very capable and did an excellent job with answering questions. Overall, Cross was very good during lecture, so you shouldn't have a problem with a material, but is a total douchebag. I don't give a rat's ass how intelligent you are, but if you act so condescending with even the simplest question, you're a shitty instructor. Class is easy though.
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2016 - He's a pretty bomb lecturer, organized and hands out notes in class. You rarely find a class where literally everyone shows up as well as being heavily engaged. He's helpful, patient, and incredibly thoughtful with his interactions with students especially in office hours. Highly recommend Jennings, he's one of the few gems in the philosophy department and absolutely brilliant.
Winter 2016 - He's a pretty bomb lecturer, organized and hands out notes in class. You rarely find a class where literally everyone shows up as well as being heavily engaged. He's helpful, patient, and incredibly thoughtful with his interactions with students especially in office hours. Highly recommend Jennings, he's one of the few gems in the philosophy department and absolutely brilliant.
Most Helpful Review
AJ is like one of those messy philosophers you would see in the comics. I took Phil 153A with him, which is about normative ethics. It was easy because of AJ's A- grading policy and our sweet TA Amber. The reading assignments were excellent, but I didn't quite enjoy AJ's lecture. AJ's lecture is somehow dry, and he keeps talking for the entire 1 hour and 50 minutes. To be honest I found myself often became sleepy in his class. I don't know if this holds true for the phil 6 he teaches, but in general he is a nice professor.
AJ is like one of those messy philosophers you would see in the comics. I took Phil 153A with him, which is about normative ethics. It was easy because of AJ's A- grading policy and our sweet TA Amber. The reading assignments were excellent, but I didn't quite enjoy AJ's lecture. AJ's lecture is somehow dry, and he keeps talking for the entire 1 hour and 50 minutes. To be honest I found myself often became sleepy in his class. I don't know if this holds true for the phil 6 he teaches, but in general he is a nice professor.
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