PHIL 2650

I enjoyed this class, but Free Will is a pretty intricate Philosophy topic if you don't already know that you like philosophy. I wouldn't take this as your first class in the department, but I thought it was a solid class nonetheless. Professor Gertler does a great job of breaking down the readings into understandable main points (she gives you a typed handout every class). She's also a very warm and helpful person in and out of class. Class has two 2-page-single-space papers and cumulative midterm and final. Professor's grading isn't easy but is fair. I thought a lot of the interdisciplinary readings bringing in law and psychology and experimental philosophy were really interesting. The laid-back atmosphere of class gave us lots of time to get into fun/interesting tangential debates (like, how much is a psychopath responsible for what they do if they really are born without the ability to empathize with pain?)

I took this course the first year it was offered, when it was just a seminar. Unless you're really into philosophy, I wouldn't recommend it. The material is confusing and the professor doesn't do much to clarify it. You can get away without doing the readings, especially because they can make the subject more confusing. The professor is VERY picky about writing style and if you don't write it the way she wants it, your grade will suffer.