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PHIL 1740 Issues of Life and Death
Last taught: Fall 2025
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28 Reviews

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Spring 2020
4.0
Average

Great course that isn't very difficult. Didn't really do readings and had two lectures and a discussion a week. 3 total papers and a final that were <1000 words each. Really interesting topics and Stangl does a great job of mentioning all arguments.

Instructor 4.0
Enjoyability 4.0
Recommend 4.0
Difficulty 1.0
Hours/Week 2.0
Spring 2016
2.7
Average

Pretty boring class. Didn't have to pay attention much but could still get and A/A-. Could've been interesting considering the topic but Stangl would stay on one slide the whole lecture and seem to ramble on with little structure. She also showed up late all the time. Discussion was awful and a waste of time because the TA had never been a TA before and didn't know how to do it. Not very hard but not very interesting either.

Instructor 2.0
Enjoyability 3.0
Recommend 3.0
Difficulty 2.0
Hours/Week 2.0
Spring 2016
5.0
Average

Professor Stangl is an amazing lecturer! She is super funny and opinionated but she is very intelligent. She seems to know much about other things other than philosophy like Classics and medicine. Before taking this class, I used to think I didn't like philosophy but she makes the class and lectures very entertaining. She has all of the readings on Collab, so you don't have to buy any textbooks! Although she assigns a reading for every class, they are usually less than 20 pages total, so it is very doable. I highly recommend reading them. You don't have to understand everything in these papers because she usually summarizes it during lectures. In the busier times, I just didn't do the readings and I've still been able to keep up in class, especially since she summarizes everyone in class. So the readings are important but they aren't paramount for your grade. As for assignments, there are two turn-in papers throughout the semester with two in-class essays (midterm and final). If you have an easy TA, the grading shouldn't be too hard. I like Nazim Adakli - his discussions can be very boring at times, but he grades easy so just show up to discussion.

Overall, I highly recommend this class. The topics were incredibly eye-opening and interesting. I feel like a much more knowledged person coming out from lecture everytime. The workload isn't too bad. You can survive without doing the readings. I honestly would want to take another Stangl class next semester because she is one of the best lecturers I've had so far.

Instructor 5.0
Enjoyability 5.0
Recommend 5.0
Difficulty 2.0
Hours/Week 6.0
Spring 2016
2.3
Average

I'm writing this review in class today. You literally never have to pay attention, all she does in lecture is ramble and get off topic. If you want to have a class to use to do other things in, like online shop or plan your study abroad plans, I highly recommend. However, my TA is literally the weirdest, most incompetent person I have ever met and my discussion is filled with extremely opinionated people who attack you if you disagree with him. I like Professor Stangl but would not take this class again.

Instructor 2.0
Enjoyability 3.0
Recommend 2.0
Difficulty 1.0
Hours/Week 1.0
Spring 2014
3.0
Average

I never did the readings for the class but just went to all lectures and turned in outlines for my TA to read for the papers so I could get feedback and got a B+ in the class. The actual material was interesting but the way she presented it was not. If you work hard you'll get a good grade, and she gives all her essay prompts for the midterms a week ahead of time so that was super helpful. Not my favorite class, but did not require much work for a passing grade.

Instructor 3.0
Enjoyability 3.0
Recommend 3.0
Difficulty 3.0
Hours/Week 0.0
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Spring 2014
3.7
Average

Professor Stangl's an engaging professor, and she always has interesting things to say. Would recommend going to her office hours to get to know her, as well as for help on tests and papers. Good class, learned a lot.

Instructor 5.0
Enjoyability 3.0
Recommend 3.0
Difficulty 3.0
Hours/Week 0.0
Spring 2014
3.0
Average

Overall, I would suggest this class if you want an interesting, thought provoking, easy class on the side. There isn't a lot of work, and much of the reading is then covered in class. Professor Stangl is incapable of lecturing without veering off on a tangent, however her tangents are still relevant, and while bubbly, she's an engaging lecturer. Expect to not stay on schedule however.

Instructor 3.0
Enjoyability 3.0
Recommend 3.0
Difficulty 2.0
Hours/Week 3.0
Spring 2010
5.0
Average

Ty was an awesome TA. If you can get him, he grades fair and he is super nice. Class was very enjoyable and discussion was probably the best part.

Instructor 5.0
Enjoyability 5.0
Recommend 5.0
Difficulty 2.0
Hours/Week 8.0
Spring 2010
2.3
Average

Wouldn't recommend it... 3 papers and 2 exams, boring lectures and while the material sounds interesting, the readings are long and boring.

Instructor 3.0
Enjoyability 2.0
Recommend 2.0
Difficulty 3.0
Hours/Week 4.0
Spring 2010
4.3
Average

Great class! I loved it. Stangl is an exciting professor and the topics covered in class are interesting. All slides are put online. 3 papers, a midterm and a final. Can do fine without doing all of the readings. Def take this class!

Instructor 4.0
Enjoyability 4.0
Recommend 5.0
Difficulty 2.0
Hours/Week 0.0
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