Bob Saget!! He's dead sexy!

funny

My funniest teacher so far. Also, probably the smartest. He knows what he's doing, and the man gets the point across very well. Ind freedom vs. Authority is my favorite class, and it's mostly due to his teaching.

Individual Freedom Vs. Authority professor... VERY intelligent, asks the tough questions, teaches you to THINK instead of just memorize. A little bit of an ass, but wholely entertaining. One of my favorites. Tests are a ****, though.

Very difficult, entertaining, don't try to bull **** on his essay tests, which are his tests. Do the reading, he knows when you use Sparks.

Best teacher I've ever had. Has influenced my choice to become a philosophy minor. He's a good guy...knows how to get on students' nerves which gets us speaking up. Great work.

You can't b.s. your way out of this one... you actually have to know stuff.

Flanagan is extremely funny and intelligent, but his class is impossible. Loved the prof, hated the class.

He is very hard. This is a tough gen-ed class but many majors require that you take it. He's hard, and the material is pretty tough.

The man knows EVERYTHING. I've never met anyone who knew philosophy backwards and forwards like Flanagan.

This class was awesome, and Flannigan was amazing. It was so refreshing to have a prof who knew his stuff and was excited about it. But you can't skip his classes, or put off the reading, your grade will suffer for it!

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Simply amazing. Possibly the most intelligent, engaging, and witty professor I have had thus far. I think most negative opinions of him stem from the fact that some people confuse his explanations of the material for his own opinions, which is their fault.

Great professor. Knows just about everything in relation to his field, and promotes great conversation in class. Funny! Lots of hard reading, but it's worth it. Never a dull moment!

Brilliant, adorable, and all around amazing guy! His class is challenging and he expects a lot out of his students, but he knows his stuff and is more than happy to help you if you need it.

Way too many expectations for a 100 level class. No papers, but it made the course difficult having the grade being based mostly on three bizarre essay tests. Class was interesting and entirely discussion based. Flanagan is absolutely hilarious and brought a lot of humor into the class.

Bordie is great! He's got a great sense of humor and doesn't mind putting philosophy into a language students can understand. He makes you work hard but its worth for a glimpse of a sharp mind and flippant sense of humor.

I hated flanagan. He was one of the most arrogant teachers i have ever had. He will not listen to other ideas or opinions and puts students down. He is brilliant but is an ass about it. He has way to many expectations for a begining class and if you dont know the answer he gets pissed at the student

It is a good class and you will learn a lot in it. It is definitely hard for an entry level course. He is very knowledgable, but of course with that comes arrogance. Overall it is a good class and if you have to take it, take it with him.

He's kind of arrogant, but he is intelligent so the arrogance is worthwhile. He's definitely one of my favorite professors. The reading for his Individual Freedom class is intense but worth it, especially if you like philsophy. Try not to miss class because the one day you miss will be the day that he gives a pop-quiz!

Flanagan is very knowledgeable, but the class is really hard, especially for an entry level course. He'll work with you if you need help, but DON'T MISS CLASS!! he will count off, since grades are just pop-quizzes and crazy essay tests you will need the class notes. Overall: good professor, but pretty difficult.

Flannagan is pretty challenging, but not in a spiteful, mean way. He genuinely wants you to learn. He is very accessible and is always happy to see his students, even if its to chat. Good Guy.

I learned more in Prof. Falnagan's class than in any other so far at AU. He is wonderful!

Best Professor around at AU

He is a tough grader, but completely brilliant. I learned a lot from his class.

this class was really hard for me to follow, but if you are going to take this class, you gotta go with flanagan. he breaks down the readings and explains everything. but, if you go to his office hours, have questions ready! he isn't the type of guy who just rubs off you. DONT FALL BEHIND ON THE READING!

Prof. Flanagan is a brilliant teacher with an incredible understanding of the material prestented. The class is a lot of work and the tests he gives are hard and graded even harder, but my understanding of government and its philsophies have been increased tremendously. I loved this class.

Professor Flanagan is a great guy. His class is difficult (and yes, you do need to show up, since he has pop quizzes), but he is an extremely brilliant man. He knows the material exceptionally well and he does a great job of explaining everything.

Seems really intimidating at first..but begins to grow on you and seems like a nice guy deep down...class is hard, especially for a gen ed..some stuff is interesting, but the workload is huge and exams are really tough...pretty tough grader...dont take the class unless you really have to or really love this stuff

Knows his stuff, i learned more than in any other class. You do need to do a lot of work in order to stay on top of things in class, but if you do it and meet with him occasionally you will be fine. He seems to take student criticism seriously, and has improved upon the opinions of earlier students i read before taking the class. Worth It.

this class is very hard, tons of reading. but he is very interesting and knows his stuff. you will not get an A, but you will really learn a lot

Interesting, knowledgable, fair grader. There's plenty of reading, but not much written work. Midterm and Final are hard, but I loved how much I learned in the class.

A great class, an even better professor. Pushes you, makes you think, and getting through the class is that much more rewarding because of it. If you're up to the challenge, you'll fall in love.

His class is fairly demanding, and his style of teaching forces you to keep up with the reading to be able to follow in class. There's no written work, so it's a a decent tradeoff. Smart guy.

Makes you think!

His class is really hard, mostly due to the material in Indiv. Freedom vs. Authority. He is really funny and tries his hardest to convey the ideas with examples that are humorous or have a stupid situation. He is a medium grader--- not really hard or easy... his class is hard though.

He is an amazing person who really knows his stuff. Makes the class fun and the class never had a dull moment. The class is VERY VERY hard however. I would not recommend to freshman who have not already taken some sort of philosophy class in high school.

byfar one of the best profs i've had at AU. no testsorquizzes, just 3(1'soptional) analytical papers where allhe asks is for your own take on the readings. learned more on the nature of gov't & politics in this oneclass than so manyother classes at this school. TAKE HIS CLASSES. and ask him about SEABISCUIT, his gf wrote it and he was in the movie!

AWESOME prof. Hard class but he is amazing. I really loved his class. I had no interest in it at first but he is very sarcastic and is all about discussion. No actual assignments but DO THE READINGS! It will help you discuss in class, he gives points for participation. If you have the chance TAKE HIM. One of the best profs at AU.

This guy is wicked hard his exams are you pick between two esaay questions and then wrtie till you hand falls off you never have enough time to cover everything and he is a harsh grader

He's absolutely phenomenal and makes you THINK! (Very refreshing compared to those "easy A" courses with mediocre profs). Not an easy class as you're actually required to think and do work but definitely enriching - great class debates, tough but thoughtful reading, funny and fascinating lectures.

Easily one of the best professors at AU. There are no actual assignments, just reading. You'll want to do them for the tests, which are not difficult so much as they are long. You always have more to write. Not hard to get a B or B+. Funny guy. Helpful in office hours. Very smart. Attendance not mandatory. You'll regret not going when tests come.

One of the best classes/professors I have had so far. Extremely interesting and thought-provoking. You absolutely have to do the reading (and do it carefully). He expects you to be able to intelligently comment on the reading and really pushes you to learn. Very dry sense of humor, but funny.

Excellent. Leads constant, engaging discussion and debate. Not afraid to mock student's preconceived notions, or use obscene scenarios to make a point. Funny.

Amazing professor, best class I've taken at AU. If you don't want to work hard, think, or learn do not take this class. If you have a problem with a professor challenging your assumptions about the reading, don't take this class. If you want one of the best classes at AU, take this class.

By far one of the best professors at AU and my personal favorite. I learned a ton and felt very satisfied with the depth of study and discussion that he fostered in class I took Individual Freedom and Nietzsche with Flanagan and I'm VERY glad I did!!! Highly recommended, but NOT EASY

Professor Flanagan is one of the best professors I have ever had. He is a scholar, an intellectual, and a generally sweet, funny, and nice man. I recommend this professor to anyone who wants to deepen their knowledge of political theory and get to know a great thinker.

Flanagan is extremely smart and is a brilliant professor. His grading and tests are a very different story. It is tough to pass this class if you are not a natural at philosophy. I would advise against taking this class if you are not a philosophy major.

I LOVE FLANAGAN! This is the best class at AU. He is so funny and smart. I loved going to this class everyday. This class is also very hard. He makes you think and the quizzes and tests are hard, but he is an amazing professor and the class is worth it. TAKE THIS CLASS!

Great Professor. Don't let the other posts let you think otherwise. Makes the material extremely clear and interesting. And he becomes an easier grader after individual freedom. I've taken 2 of his classes and am going to take a 3rd in the fall.

The best professor I've had at AU. Explains everything clealy and is willing to help. Not an easy class, but worth it. Dry sense of humor, some don't appreciate. Always open to questions and is thorough in his response.

One of the best classes and professors I've had, but also one of the hardest. More then I expected for a 100 level class but I learned more then in any other of my 100 level classes. Dry senese of humor, not for everyone. Very smart, willing to help students.

Show that you understand the material

Very interesting lectures. Makes difficult and dense ancient Greek texts fun, colorful, and stimulating. His handle on "the Greek" is excellent. Not too soft to slap down stupid remarks, but a nice guy nonetheless. His reading quiz questions are frustrating sometimes, even for diligent readers. Loves the almond butter sandwiches.

Best professor, and teacher, I have ever had. Very hard class, makes you think, but you come out a much better student in almost every regard. Just don't to expect to get grades back in a timely manner.

Professor Flanagan is one of the best professors at AU! He is a little intimidating and he has a very dry sense of humor but he is brilliant! If you really want to learn, take a class with him! You will HAVE TO READ but what you learn in the process is so worth it

Absolutely brilliant. Captivating lecturer; makes interesting of dense and ancient texts. Engages and challenges students. Difficult, yes, but that is what college is about. Don't take anyone but Flanagan for GOVT-105. Best professor at AU.

Professor Flanagan is one of the best professors at AU. He is very demanding and expects each student to work to their fullest potential. The class is hard, he's the toughest grader I've ever seen, but it's all worth it. I've never gotten so much out of one class. The course material itself is hard, so take the class with Flanagan! It's worth it!

Go beyond GOVT-105, and you will be rewarded by a Flanagan that is not constrained by an introductory class. We had a group of veteran students in our class, and the humor and discussion flowed naturally. The man knows of what he speaks- he can, for example, correct a translation in Thucydides from memory. Best/favorite professor I have ever had.

The Best. Very interesting lecture, demanding class but in general a very rewarding experience.

Great professor—unlike most, he actually challenges you to think, and rewards those who seek knowledge for its own sake. Don't take the class if you're looking to get an easy A with minimal work. But if you want to expand your mind and gain a basic understanding of political theory—and have your assumptions unraveled—this is the class for you.

Prof. Flanagan is one of the best professor at AU. He is extremely challenging. If you put in the work you will see the reward. But if you are not ready to put in the work, you will hate him. He is smart and knows his materials extremely well and is more than happy to help you with your problems. It is one of the most rewarding class I had at AU.

Prof. F is the 2nd best AU Prof. Those who dislike like him: lazy, in Kogod, unintelligent, or soulless demons. He guides classes to grasp the questions the Great Minds have consistently debated. Genius. Look where your Prof. got Phd'd, for the $ we pay, it should be the best in field: Ivy, or equivalent, as Fl was. Take if ur a Serious student.

Don't let the level-100 fool you; the reading and tests are incredibly difficult. If you do not read and study, you will fail. But the reading is incredible, and you learn SO much. If you need help, he will help you after class or at office hours. This class will make you question how you think and feel, but in the best way. Highly recommended!

You will never, as a poli sci major at American University, have a professor that demands more. You will also never, as a poli sci major at American University, learn as much as this professor can teach you in one semester. If you put in the work, your work will be acknowledged in your grade. If not, this professor has no problem failing you.

Flanagan gets a lot of flack for being tough and kind of rude, but it's honestly not that bad. He's a funny guy and you can tell how passionate he is about the topics he discusses. Be prepared to read A LOT, and you have to buy every single textbook or he will take points off. He tries to be as helpful as possible with study guides as well!

If you are looking for an easy Gen Ed or to fill your requirement, do NOT take this course. If you want to explore deeper meanings of political philosophy and read great works with amazing lectures, then this class is for you. DO NOT SKIP CLASS. If you skip class, chances are you won't understand the questions on tests. Reading can also be long.

Professor Flanagan is one of the most insightful professors that I have taken. He challenges preconceived notions and exposes the intricacies of everyday life through theory. Both he and the readings are definitely intimidating, but taking a class with Prof. Flanagan is absolutely worth it if you genuinely care about learning rather than grades.

Get ready to READ! You will read between 200-400 pages for this course every week of old philosophy texts. You WILL NOT PASS if you do not do the readings. Don't let this daunt you, though, because the course is super worth while - you just need to put in the time and work for it. Grade is based completely on attendance and exams.

This man is a real pro. His first exercise is to ask the class for a definition of a "right," then to shoot each one down and prove that we don't know as much as we think. Now that he has our respect, he explains the texts with insight and clarity, makes an effort to be at once authoritative and amiable, and rewards your respect with his.

Flanagan is beyond exceptional. He is a true gem at American. You will read a lot of dense material, but you will also learn so much. The way in which I engage texts and authors has been forever changed because of him. He is also quite funny, but has a slightly depreciatory sense of humor which can be off-putting, and is known for tardiness.

Professor Flanagan is and incredibly smart professor. Very hard, but knows the material inside out and backwards. Took his course for my University College class and was not expecting the difficulty. Six pop quizzes, 3 big papers and a final, lots of work for a first semester freshman class, but I learned a ton.

He's the smartest person in the world. Your grade is only based on 3 tests and you need to read but other than that he is good :)

He definitely loves his job, he is hilarious, accessible after class and is amazing philosopher. I have enjoyed talking with him and discussing readings, it's very important that you master the readings otherwise you won't pass in his class. His class is definitely worth taking!!!

Flanagan is an awesome professor! He is consistently 15 minutes late to class (was even late to our final lol!), doesn't allow laptops, and requires that you have all books (very reading-intensive class), but his lectures are interesting and his passion is infectious! If you go to class and do your work, you'll be fine. Also he's super hot omg !!

Prof. Flanagan is a pretty rad dude

Professor Flanagan's dedication to his students and to learning is unparalleled. His lectures are highly engaging and he is one of the most interesting men I have ever met. However, he does fully expect that his students do the readings (long and dense) and fully engage in class. If you're willing to do the work, he will open your mind.

Flanagan's class is not for the faint of heart. The reading is extensive and not optional, at least if you want to pass. But the classes are some of the most interesting I've had at American, and he seems to have an unparalleled passion for teaching. Definitely recommend, but only if you have the time to put in to it.

Flanagan's class was tough, but I'm so glad I took it! We had so many interesting discussions in our class. This class opened my mind and made me think differently about philosophy. Flanagan may come across as intimidating but he just wants to challenge students and get them to think critically. If you study and do the readings, you should be fine.

Flanagan is a brilliant professor who definitely knows what he's talking about. He is very engaging and makes you think critically, and made class quite enjoyable. That being said, DO NOT EVER SKIP CLASS because you will miss critical info for the exam. Take really good notes, READ, and make the charts he says to make. He's hard but not impossible!

Not an easy A. To pass, you need to read everything thoroughly and/or actually pay attention/take notes at every lecture (I only did the latter, tbh). Highlight what he talks about the most, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what's on the exams. He really knows his stuff and makes the lectures funny. We made philosophy memes for extra credit.

He is probably one of the most knowledgeable professors I have ever had. He clearly knows his stuff and will not mess around. Do not skip class ever, it is crucial to passing. Go to the exam review sessions. Read. Biggest complaint is his attitude during discussions, could be more accomodating of wrong answers.

Essentially Dr. Gregory House as a political theory professor. He knows a whole lot and will rely on his sense of humor, which is often sarcastic. You could do all the reading and absorb it, or you could just repeat everything he says onto the essay. Either way will succeed.

This class was super interesting and very difficult but I promise you that if you do the readings and approach the course the way he tells you to in the syllabus, you will do well. I suspect that the lower ratings are because of the amount of work this class requires, but if you attend class/ review sessions and do the work you will be fine.

Professor Flanagan is by far one of the best professors I've taken at AU. Yes, his class required a ton of reading, but the lectures and discussions were super interesting and entertaining, as long as you do the work because he'll call you out if you didn't. Super accommodating if you talk to him. You'll actually learn something in his class.

He's AMAZING, he is kind of an oddball though. He is beyond smart and it's in your best interest to be the most engaged in his lectures for your own benefit, not just for the grade. I've never seen this man be on time once though haha. You have 3 exams and participation, so do your reading and listen to his advice, trust me!! AMAZING class & prof!

Definitely not an easy A, but if youre willing to put in the work it is achievable. Clearly very smart and knows what he is talking about which comes through during the classes. Not a super tough grader, very focused on making sure students learn. Class is a lot of work but is very interesting and engaging.

Very funny guy who is really passionate about what he teaches. There is a lot to learn from this course if you do the readings. He has a habit of being late and forgetful so don't be afraid to shoot him an email. Listen to what he deems important and review it in the text and you'll be fine. Also, do the readings before class.

A lot of people rag on Professor Flanagan, which I don't think is quite fair. His class was reading intensive and required a lot of effort and insightful thought. But, to his credit, he laid that all out there in the syllabus. I loved all of his lectures and he is genuinely very funny (in a sarcastic way) and obviously very knowledgeable.

Prof. Flanagan's course has made me a better student. It taught me to look beyond dogma and really learn how to break down and strenuously test arguments. Yes, his course is tough. It is not an easy A. However, the point of college is to learn and Prof. Flanagan is thoroughly engaging with teaching if you commit yourself to his course.

I am going to be honest, I did not like him at first but he ended up being my absolute favorite professor this semester. His class was certainly hard but I became a much better student because of it. He is incredibly funny and he really cares about his students. If you have the chance to have Flanagan, take it! He is great!

Very funny and lectures were engaging. Tells lots of random stories as examples but they actually help you remember the material. Provided study sessions before tests which were very helpful. Tests are hard at first but get easier once you understand his grading style. Likes when you repeat what he says in class on the tests verbatim.

Flanagan does NOT give freebies-you have to work for every single point and he is not afraid to fail students. However, he's brilliant, funny, and he rewards hard work, so if you put serious effort into the class you'll learn a LOT. Reading and lectures are completely mandatory to pass so don't take him if you aren't prepared to work super hard.

Professor Flanagan is no joke- he is probably not a good choice if you are not interested in the subject material he teaches. He is extremely rigorous in lecturing and grading - probably the hardest prof I have taken in SPA. On the other hand, if you're willing to take on the difficulty, he rewards you with unbelievably deep teaching and knowledge.

Really wants students to learn but expects you to do the readings and thoroughly understand the arguments made during lectures. The volume and complexity of readings were overwhelming for a 100-level course, but his wit and responsiveness to questions always made class enjoyable (despite being late often.) I liked the class and learned plenty.

you'll need to read a lot of dense texts but he makes them accessible and easy to understand. just make sure you take good notes.

Great Professor. I have taken many class with Flanagan and enjoyed each of them. I learn a lot and he does a good job of introducing complex texts and concepts. Great mix of challenging and constructive...just what you want in a college class (we don't ALWAYS need an easy A). A little rough around the edges but actually cares about students.

Flanagan's courses are always a challenge, but if you're interested in the subject of political theory he is a must-take. He really cares about logic/sound arguments and grades pretty toughly in accordance with that. It's worth it, though - you will improve as a writer and critical thinker if you put in the effort.

Flanagan's knowledge is incredibly vast. Take good, paper notes. Participate in class and really get into the text in your own time to understand the way he wants you to interpret the material.

Dense readings but that's just the nature of the subject. Flanagan is very personable and fun to talk to when you get used to him, participation is really important to understand the topics. 3 exams with review sessions and not the most difficult grader.

This professor isn't as bad as some others say. You just have to know this one pro tip: don't do the readings. Seriously. Flanagan wants you to regurgitate what he says back at him on tests. Just go to his review sessions, pay attention in class, and say exactly what he said back at him. Independent thoughts from doing the readings is folly.

Professor Flanagan is not for all. He is lecture heavy and make sure to attend class. Almost everything on the tests was mentioned at least a few times in class so make sure to take lots of notes. He's tough but overall he's very nice and not too harsh on grading.

This is a hard class but if you put the work in you get a lot out of it. Definitely makes you think differently and explore different concepts. Engage in class and make sure to do the reading and you'll be fine. Exam heavy but nice grader, returned quickly. Tends to run late to class. Sense of humour might not be for everyone but he's a cool guy.

Plato's "The Republic," Tocqueville's "Democracy in America," Marx's "Communist Manifesto" / "Jewish Question", and Nietzche's "Genealogy of Morals." Professor focuses on getting students to understand the logic of these texts. No-technology and harsh grader, but the readings will help you rethink your beliefs. No essays, just written exams.

Flanagan is my favorite prof at AU- he is so intelligent and is willing to talk about any thing from any class. I have never learned so much from a professor and any student would be lucky to have a class with him! You will learn how to think!