I took this Spring of 2020 during the coronavirus quarantines/protests. This quarter was a bit different in design from the usual in-person class, so the grading may be different in future classes.

Overall, I'd say it was really easy: there were originally supposed to be 5 quizzes (about 1 every 2 weeks) worth 50% and 2 papers worth the other 50%, but Smith was very accommodating and dropped the lowest quiz and paper, so only 4 quizzes and the highest scoring paper counted for your grade. Since I got 100s on the first 4 quizzes and did well on the first paper, I was basically exempt from the last ones. All of the lectures were pre recorded and uploaded so we could watch them at our leisure. They were also shorter than in a normal 1.25 hr timeslot so you can watch on 2x speed.

The quizzes were 10 questions with a generous 20 min time limit that covered only material from the last lecture of the previous quiz to the most recent material, so it was mostly 2-3 lectures worth of material and was also open notes and book. The papers were also manageable, though it does depend on who you get as a TA and what they are looking for in your papers!

There is one book that you are required to get, but it can be found online free in PDF form. You'll likely need it for the papers, but the quizzes themselves were based mainly on handouts from Smith that accompanied lectures. There are also two outside source readings you have to do, but it isn't hard and as long as you take notes in lecture or discussion on them, you don't really need to read them either unless it is what you choose as a paper topic.

Overall, this class was an excellent and easy choice for a philos GE/pre-req compared to some other philosophy classes. The content is not difficult to understand at all either. I recommend taking it!

This was a super easy GE. Sheldon did a great job of moving everything online during the COVID quarter, and was a cool professor. Two 4ish-page papers, 5 easy quizzes, and he ended up canceling the second paper anyway. This class was cash.

Highly recommend this class as a GE. Class consisted of 5 very easy and straightforward quizzes (each worth 10%) and 2 essays (20% and 30%), plus a point of extra credit (boost grade by 1%). Quizzes took questions directly from the lectures and were open note. Essays had somewhat complicated prompts and not a lot of guidance, but were doable if you checked your ideas with a good TA. Professor Smith’s lectures are clear, even though the material is difficult to fully grasp at times. Would not recommend buying the textbook, as it unnecessarily complicates the material. Overall, a very easy class with little work involved.

Professor Smith is really knowledgeable about this topic. I will say the topic was confusing if you are not well-versed in philosophy, let alone Philosophy of Science. And I also never went to class after week 4 with the exception of the midterm and final (because I could never get up before 9:30am LOL)... I ended up getting a good grade, primarily because my TA was so nice and helpful during office hours. Please go to office hours if you need it. My suggestion is weekly or biweekly, I regret not doing that. There are many concepts to grasp and it can be easy to get behind while it seems like your classmates understand everything right off the bat. There are also helpful quizlets to use and what not. We had an in class midterm, a paper, and an in class final. Each were 33% which is why it is important to finesse and focus solely on the things that matter. The readings were interesting to an extent but the length made them boring because they were so "academic" if that makes sense lol.

I agree with the below reviewer. The class materials were easy (yet boring--one of the midterm problems was that if we can trust a microscope or not, for it can distort our view, or something like that), but the grading was too rigorous. And trust me, that makes this class 'extremely annoying.'

I really don't want to say these kinds of things, but I recommend you to think SERIOUSLY about dropping the class if your TA's name is Sarah... before it is too late. First-handedly it's my fault that I got Bs on my midterm and essay, but she is too meticulous and expects too much for students taking the introductory course, in my opinion.

Philosophy is so GODDAMN stupid! Dr. Smith discusses topics I would never imagine being discussed in a college course, like the term "grue" or possibility that a flame is actually dancing elves?! WTF?! The topic of the class is so stupid to me, BUT I will say Dr. Smith made it fun and entertaining. He does ramble on and on, but you can leave whenever, as long as you have the handout to study. In the end, your grade depends on your TA, since they grade your midterm (30%), final (30%), and paper (40%). Go to your TA and let them proofread over your paper at least once if you want a good grade. I wrote it the night before it was due, bad idea! I got a B/B+ only because I went to my TA and talked to him about it before writing it.

Awesome class, SO easy. Lectures are incredibly boring, but Professor Smith does try to make them more lively by throwing in a couple of jokes here and there as people have mentioned. He distributes handouts every lecture (and posts them online), so as long as you have those, you're set. He literally types out everything you need to know and then reads you the handout in lecture.

The only reason lectures were so long was because people asked so many questions and got into arguments over details of the philosophical concepts he was discussing. As a South Campus major, I really didn't care all that much about philosophy and I just wanted an easy GE. He gives you a study guide with everything you need to know and if you get past exams from the test bank, I'm pretty sure he reuses test questions. The essay is worth a large percentage of your grade, so make sure you talk to your TA beforehand. Justin was a really chill TA and thank goodness I got him, because I heard some of the other TA's were picky about grading.

prof. smith is very much caring, funny and just good! i guess i can see how some people thought the topics were boring, but here is my opinion: this class tells all about the mind of scientists and just solely looking at the world of science/scientists from the philosopher's point of view.

Professor Smith is a very nice, and often funny, but this isn't a super easy GE. The material is extremely boring, and, in my opinion, a lot of bs. Listen to other reviewers, do the reading, and go to lecture (and take good notes), but forget discussion, as it typically tuns into dumb people arguing about irrelevent philosophic viewpoints (very annoying). If you don't mind doing the reading it isn't terribly hard, but don't expect to only study the night before tests and get an A.

Professor Smith was great. The midterms and paper s were very fair, hes very approachable, a funny guy as well. The book is hard to read but his lectures really clear things up. He also hands out summaries for each topic, which REALLY help. I would def take him, I took Phil 8 as a GE and Im glad I took it with Prof. Smith