Excellent lectures. He really loves class participation and discussions can go anywhere. On the same note, he's really good at making sure the subject matter is covered. His tests are super tough but he will curve it to help your grade. If you do the reading good things will happen, if you don't you will most likely crash and burn.

I've had Brother Merril for philosophy 110, 202, 203, and 205 HE IS AN EXCELLENT PHILOSOPHY TEACHER! For any of his philosophy classes <u>there is a lot of reading</u> for 110 expect at least an hour and a half for 200s at least 2 for every class period. His tests are pretty difficult, if you're looking for an easy ride this isn't it.

Great teacher. Loves Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. Even though his class was hard, it was by far my favorite class because you felt like you were learning something. He's my favorite teacher, always smiling. He does require you to show up to class prepared.

His class is structured very well and he is very clear and enthusiastic about philosophy. His tests can be difficult sometimes.

Most of the stuff that he taught kind of went over my head and when people tried to disagree with him he wouldn't have it I like the comics but he really knows what he is talking about. He is a pretty good teacher I won't take philisophy again though.

Prof. Merrill is by far the most intelligent and adroit professor I have ever met. He will dazzle you with his extensive knowledge, yet has the ability to bring it down to earth. His intellectual capabilities and sophistication are akin to Hannibal Lector (but without the canabalism). If you take only one class in college this should be it.

After reading the other comments, I highly recommend taking the online class. If you're a good independent studier, that's definately the way to go. The exams are exactly like the homework and quizzes, so if you do those, you'll be fine. He's really nice and pretty accomodating. He knows his stuff and is good about explaining things.

I am really sad to see my fav prof beaten down on here. He is an excellent teacher, and if you are willing to work, you will get the class with no problem and learn a lot. I've been in 3 classes and he has my respect and acknowledgement as one of the most intelligent persons I have ever met. It is a hard class, work hard and you will not regret it.

For a 100 level class, there was a lot of work involved. The teacher is absolutely amazing! You will be amazed by how smart he is. The work load is tough, but you'll leave this class with a new way of perceiving the world. If anything, the classmates you have will make it or break it faster than the teacher.

Great teacher! He really knows his stuff, and you can tell that he has thought long and hard about philosophy. If you keep your mind open to what he teaches you then it is an amazing class. Otherwise it will be the hardest class you have ever taken.

Excellent teacher. Hard as heck class but I learned so much from it. As long as you have an open mind and you're willing to put in study time this class is great.

Good teacher and good class. There is alot of reading involved but that's because it's the only way to get you thinking about it. Each day he discusses what you read previous, and clairfies theories. If you want a class that helps you preform better in all other aspects of anything that requires thought, take this class.

Extremely thought provoking class! However, using the book he has you use (Lawhead 4th ed.)is like learning to swim in the deep end of the pool. I feel like I'm drowning when studying it let alone remembering everything for quizzes/tests. Very hard but respectable teacher.

I was really impresses with Brother Merrill. He made our class very interesting. And becuase it was a philosophy of Religion class, it was tough, but it was never that bad doing the work. I would recommend taking any class from him; you'll get a lot out of it.

Brother Merrill is BRILLIANT. His class isn't the easiest, but you learn so much from him and he really makes you think outside the box. I like that he teaches you how to back up your arguments by using reason and not just your testimony. He's also willing to help you and talk to you if you have any questions or concerns. I recommend his class.

I have taken all the classes Bro Merrill has to offer, also I was his TA. The problem with most of the commenters here is the problem that gets Merrill so mad. There's an apathy to learning shared by a majority at BYUI. If you fall into this category, don't take classes from him. PERIOD. Stop wasting your $ and get married or something.

Best professor I have ever had. He is extremely intelligent. You'll get a LOT out of his classes. However, if you want an easy ride through your studies, he's not the professor to take. His class is fascinating. I think I learned more there than in all of my other classes combined. He cares a lot about his students and the material he teaches you.

Great professor, but the class kinda sucked because he was doing all this "group work" stuff, which SUCKED because 90% of the class were idiots. He's a really intelligent guy, and I really just wanted to sit there and listen to him lecture for the hour. A really hard entry level class. Quizzes are really difficult. Prepare to study 5 hours a week.

Greek class was WAY hard, but I think that was more because of the textbook he selected to use than Bro. Merrill himself. I hope the class has a new book by now. Plan on about 2+ hours of homework a night for this class and about 10+ hrs to study for final. My Span. class was easy compared to this, but still got an A. Great guy; hard/fun class.

Warning: if you're the sort of student who checks his or her brain at the door, then I suggest you waste your time with another professor. Otherwise, you'll find Brother Merrill to be both intelligent and fascinating as you learn to think rigorously about life's most intriguing questions. I couldn't recommend him more. Good luck!

Possibly my favorite professor yet. I've never met one who was so passionate about their subject. The readings are hard to understand sometimes, but that's philosophy. As long as you do the reading he'll help you understand it all. Just get into it and you'll love this class.

Professor Merril was by far one of my favorite teachers during my first semester of college. Super insightful and knowledgeable about all subjects other than philosophy, he just loves what he teaches and just wants the students to love it too and to think on a much deeper level than you normally would have

The readings are often difficult but it's philosophy. He is a great teacher and knows his stuff. If you follow the syllabus you will have no problems.

Great teacher. The class is hard but I have never learned more. Remember to study the book and pay attention to the syllabus.

Best teacher I've had at BYU-Idaho. I'm happy to be taking a class from him again. He is one of the kindest, most intelligent, and most passionate teachers I have ever had. The subject is kind of hard, but if you want to gain knowledge, you will be astounded at what you can learn from him. His classes are rewarding.

Professor Merrill Inspires me everyday. He is one of the smartest people I know, and yet so humble, Kind and full of life. Any class you take from him will be a challenge, but totally worth it.

Dr. Merrill is one of the finest scholars I have ever encountered. His classes are reasonable, though he expects a great deal from his students. I highly recommend him.

Gave a lot of work, but was a great teacher to take this class from. I learned tons about philosophy and literature I wouldn't have known before.

Brother Merril is absolutely amazing. He is one of the nicest guys on the planet and is ridiculously knowledgeable. The subject material requires a lot of thinking so you will come out of the class rewarded. Brother Merril is an exceptional human being.

Absolutely the best teacher I've ever taken--extremely intelligent, clear, and kind. He's a real gentleman and scholar. He made me love philosophy. Course was hard...but it's philosophy, after all. Just do the reading and follow the syllabus.

Great teacher! Enthusiastic, incredibly intelligent, and kind. Just do the reading and be engaged, and this could be your favorite class.

For anybody wanting a real education, Brother Merrill is a fantastic teacher. He's the most educated and intelligent person I know. And he knows how to teach really difficult ideas so that you understand, so long as you do the reading and take your education seriously.

Extremely difficult course. Bro. Merrill is the wisest, most passionate, and least assuming person who will ever blow your mind with amazing philosophical understanding and insight. Be prepared to spend a LOT of time studying and completing reading. His quizzes are difficult if you only know the content at surface-level.

Absolutely the best teacher. It's not difficult to get an A, if you just do the work and take it seriously.

Absolutely great teacher. The class was a lot of work, but you were able to get a lot out of it with effort. The teacher was great, and was more than happy to help students

Bro. Merrill really knows and loves what he teaches. It's obvious that he cares a lot about the students and wants them to do their best. Some may complain that he expects a lot of his students, but this is college; he has every reason to expect us to try our best. This will be your favorite class if you do all of the work and really want to learn.

I took brother merrill's class for philosophy and he is the best teacher i have ever had. His class is challenging but it honestly changed my life. Stay on top of things and dig deep. This guy has 4 degrees. He knows his stuff

Incredible teacher. Is a well respected man amongst philosophers and has multiple degrees. He loves his job and even more, his students. Prepare to work hard and love every minute of it.

Brian Merrill brings a wonderful sense of humor to the class, as well as an abundance of knowledge in linguistics and history. The course was challenging, but it was worth the effort. He brings a great atmosphere and energy to the class.

This is a really hard class. Brother Merrill is great and really knows what he is teaching and he loves his students. The TA is HORRIBLE! I would not suggest taking this until that has changed because it is so much harder, and he is rude. However, if you want to work really hard, learn a lot and don't care about your GPA, then this is a good class.

Bro. Merrill is a one of a kind kinda guy. He is the most intelligent and most kind professor I have ever had. He is very willing to help when in need, and trust me you will be in need of help! This class is not easy but it is so rewarding! The workload is heavy but it's worth it! Take a class from Bro. Merrill! He's the coolest cat around.

Brother Merrill is really smart, super inspirational, and will blow your mind with the way he makes you think about things. There is homework reading assigned for every night. He changed the class course this semester so its different now than it was before. Take notes in class! He basically tells you the answers to the short answeressay tests.

You really have to work for it. You learn a lot. I almost dropped the class because it was really challenging but I stuck it out and I was really glad that I did. I have learned a lot and become a more well-rounded person.

Professor Merrill is the best teacher I have ever had at BYUI. He is so smart and kind, but he holds you to high standards. Take this class if you really want to learn.

Bro. Merrill is honestly one of the most perfect teachers on the planet. He is smart, yet not degrading and truly taught me everything I know about Philosophy. I loved reading for this class, I loved going to this class, and I was genuinely upset when it was over. Take Bro. Merrill for an amazing semester.

Professor Merrill is the coolest teacher I've ever had. If you want a real education, take this class. Be prepared to be blown away.

Professor Merrill is a fantastic teacher. Philosophy 110 is a great class to expand your critical thinking skills and sharpen your ability to write clearly and concisely. Be prepared of essay exams and reading for every class. Come to class prepared, with an open mind, and a resolve to learn; and you will have a great experience.

Professor Merrill is a wonderful teacher. Ancient philosophy at times is a bit dry but if you read the text, take notes, and study; there will not be any issues when it comes time for the tests. Originally he wanted to have two tests, but asked our opinion on the matter and changed his policy to allow for a richer experience. A real genuine guy.

Bro Merrill is the most awesome professor! He makes difficult concepts easy to understand and blew my mind more than once. Tests can be hard but just study and you can do well. Loved this class.

Professor Merrill is the most powerful teacher I have ever had. I recommend PHIL 110 to ANYONE. It will help you no matter what your major is. The things I learned in that class expanded my mind and helped me greatly. My religious understanding increased. Merrill doesn't give meaningless assignments. Do the assigned reading. Be prepared to think.

He's a fantastic teacher and is super helpful! His class also has tutors if you need them. He does a good job of explaining the reading in his lectures. It's a lot of reading but the quizzes are open book and online. He gives a few ways to get extra credit if you need it. He is good at expanding your mid but not attacking your faith. Worth taking.

Brother Merrill is an amazing teacher. He is extremely knowledgeable and very clear in his lectures. Taking Philosophy for the first time can be difficult, but he makes it a lot easier. He is also very willing to work with you if you need help. His 110 class helped me see things in a completely new way. I believe the class changed my life.

Brother Merrill is my favorite teacher I have ever had. He explains each philosophical concept so clearly, and if you don't understand, all you have to do is ask and he will explain it to you very well. Quizzes are easiest if you have it open while reading the chapter and look for answers to the questions. Tests aren't bad if you study. Loved class

Bro. Merrill is honestly one of the best professors on campus. He is super smart and does not turn the class into a religion class disguised as philosophy. His lectures are super interesting and he is very accepting of student's opinions. His class is not easy, especially for a 100 level course, but its not out of control difficult.

Professor Merrill is the best teacher I've ever had. He'll challenge your intellect; he'll make you think; but he doesn't demand more than you can do. He's also well organized and considerate of his students. But don't expect an easy A. You'll have to understand the concepts.

Prof. Merrill Is one of the most intelligent and well-rounded individuals I have ever met. His rigorous thinking and thorough presentations are ideal; you can tell he has a rock-solid grasp of the material, which of course bodes well for his students. His instruction is clear and top-notch. I couldn't recommend him more highly.

this is a really go class. i loved it a lot i would totally take it again. you learn a lot about the world and yourself. i just wish i worked harder to get a better grade but this class is totally worth it. there is a lot of reading and the test and quizzes are really hard but if you study and pay attention in class it would all good.

Professor Merrill is a fantastic teacher. His lectures are clear and well organized. All of his assignments are reasonable and help us to reach the goals of the course. And he is a kind and considerate gentleman. I don't know which professor the previous two reviewers took, but it certainly wasn't the Professor Merrill that I know. PHIL 110 too.

Brother Merrill is one of the most down to earth people I know. He is so passionate and is very intelligent. His class is difficult and is time consuming but the class and Brother Merrill is super inspirational. I would take the class 100 times over. Take the class. You won't regret it

Brother Merrill is incredible! He's so intelligent, and so well-educated, but also very respectful and humble. You really have to learn the stuff to do well and not just memorize facts. But the class is worth it! It's really mind-expanding! He gives extra cred if you don't miss any classes and also if you go to Phil. Society 8 times.

THIS IS A PHILOSOPHY CLASS. Many students simply do not understand the field of study, and base their experiences off of their math classes. Those unacquainted with the subject will have difficulty adapting to it; regardless of the professor. It will be, for many, and entirely new way to think. Professor Merrill is an exceptional teacher.

Brother Merrill is a fantastic teacher, very intelligent -- graduated with 5 majors. This was my first ever philosophy class, it was one of the hardest classes I've ever taken. Requires a lot of reading and time to understand what you read. I did learn more in this class this semester than all the rest combined. Be willing to put in serious work.

Great teacher. He is very knowledgeable about the subject and encourages students to reach their potential. This class can be difficult, but you learn so many important things in it. Lectures are great and all of the work you do in this class has a purpose. None of it is busywork. Overall, I would definitely recommend this class.

Brother Merrill is amazing. He treats students with respect and is good at facilitating discussion. Philosophy will expand your mind like you never imagined. I learned immensely about reasoning and argument through this course. You can apply what you learn in this class in diverse aspects of life--like making great conversations on dates!

Brother Merrill may be the best teacher I had. The classes he teaches are very difficult by virtue of the abstract material, but he teaches with clarity, always gets the most out of questions which are asked, and is considerate in his demeanor. He also knows just about everything.

This is a philosophy teacher, so don't expect an easy A. Taking this as my first philosophy class was extremely difficult, but as the semester progressed it was quite easy to recognize the progress I had made. I attribute this to Brother Merrill because he is clear and easy to understand (as far as a philosopher goes). Don't expect to cruise though

Brother Merrill was honestly one of the best teachers I have had and the class has been one of the best I have taken. It's hard work and you have to have the mind of a philosopher to pass. Brother Merrill gives amazing lectures and always answers your questions. If philosophy is an interest of yours I highly recommend this class.

Brother Merril is an excellent teacher. He presents the subject very well. Very knowledgeable and insightful. You have a section to read and a quiz on it before each class but its open book. Theres About 5 essays to write and most are a week after one another but its not too bad. Great class.

Brother Merrill is super intelligent and kind, but philosophy is pretty advanced and complex so lectures are always kind of tough. Reading closely and spending a long time on homework is the only thing that will help you in this class. He's always there for his office hours. Don't miss assignments, it will screw your grade. All in all he's cool.

Definitely the hardest class I've ever taken. Brother Merrill is a good teacher, its just a difficult subject but I think he understands that. He's usually pretty gentle on the grading if you show effort so even if you are just grasping at straws, turn something in or your grade will tank. He likes participation and group discussion.

Brother Merrill was a great teacher! The work is challenging and long, but the payoff is worth everything you put into it.

If you like writing, this class is for you. You'll be writing captures on many articles, and eventually a chunky final paper. There are also five oral exams, so if you're deathly afraid of public speaking, just know that you'll be challenged. Professor Merrill is so kind and respectful of his students; I would take every class from him if I could.

The toughest and most rewarding class I took my freshman year. I wrote more papers for this class than I did for my English class. Crash Course is going to be your new best friend. Prof enjoys full lectures and goes over class time occasionally. Don't skip class! The lectures are the most helpful thing if you are present physically and mentally!

Professor Merrill is MORE than fair. He expects students to be good students, which is the bare minimum when you pay for your education. He has spent a great deal of his life studying what he teaches and it is very evident in his class.

Great guy and I try not to hold anything against him because it was the semester that COVID hit, he did a really good job to keep our engagement up. This is a great introduction to philosophy.

Brother Merrill is one of the most knowledgeable professors at BYUI. He is absolutely brilliant and his lectures are very good. Even if you don't need to take this class take it. You will not regret signing up for this class. There is a good amount of reading, and quizzes. You will get to self evaluate your performance at the end of the class.

Professor Merrill is extremely knowledgable in philosophy - great person to learn the basics from. At the end of the semester he asks you to grade yourself and give evidence for why you think you earned that grade. So don't skip class or the readings, participate while in class and make a real effort to learn the content and you'll get an A.

Make sure to get help with the TA's on the papers. He has you grade yourself at the end of the semester and if you attended every lecture (Even if it was through zoom) he will raise your grade by an entire letter! This course was so interesting! Brother Merrill makes you really think about life.

He is super nice, funny, and very knowledgable. Was a great class to participate in, but the readings were often overbearing and time consuming. The essays were really easy and attendance is required

Prof. Merrill is the best teacher I've had in my whole college career. He's very knowledgable but cares about his students. The class was difficult, but he and the TAs are eager to help if you need it--just ask! Discussion and lectures are mind-blowing. But you need to be prepared. Do the reading. Fantastic teacher! Great class!

Brother Merrill is amazing and wants everyone to succeed, but he isn't going to let you by without working for success. He gives you all of the materials necessary to be successful, but it is up to you to take advantage of them.

Brother Merrill is genuinely one of my heroes. He is not only a highly skilled philosopher with a great ability to communicate that knowledge to his students, but he is also the most kind, humble, and capable individual that I have ever had the pleasure to meet. He teaches clearly, in a straightforward fashion, and with high expectations.

Logic was by far the hardest class I have ever taken and expect that it will be the hardest class I will ever take, unless I take the advanced logic class. But this class changed my life, and I couldn't have gotten through it without Brother Merrill. He is a clear genius who teaches clearly and is always willing to help and answer questions.

Brother Merrill is very kind, intelligent, and willing to work with students. The lectures and discussions were a lot of fun. The workload is pretty heavy, so get ready for a lot of difficult readings and essays. Be aware that there are no electronics allowed in class and you are required to print all of your papers.

Professor Merrill's PHI110 is a challenging yet rewarding course. The lectures are engaging, but staying on top of the readings is key. Unstuck AI proved invaluable for test prep. Overall, a great class with an approachable instructor.

Extremely knowledgeable. Go visit his office and every square inch is packed with books. I learned a lot from this class

He's an alright teacher. I will say he's extremely smart and knowledgeable. For unit 2, we did the exact same homework assignment 3 days a week for a month. Be prepared to discuss the readings in a group every single class period. If you do the readings you'll be fine but it just gets annoying after a while in my opinion. He's a good guy though!