Lots of presentations and debates

Good ethics prof

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Great professor. Won a university wide teaching award. Would definately take a course with again.

hes a **** prof,.. definitely take the course again

Nice guy says hello in the halls at York very tall which is scary but still nice guy

He is a great teacher and got me interested in philosophy.

A bit taller than necessary. Do not let him look after your cat. All assignments marked "B-- could do better" which, in fairness, is accurate. Excellent knowledge of 20th Century graphic novellas. Often uses word "romain" for "germane", which is strange. Weakness for pittospora.

Real funny guy. One of those profs who swears when necessary.

Real funny guy. He has a great teaching style and makes an effort to get to know his students. He is very knowledgable and you will get a lot out of his class.

PATRICK IS HILARIOUS!!! He inserts comical and witty comments throughout his lectures. I do enjoy listening to his British accent, which sort of adds a whimsical aura to the class. NOTE: if you don't seem to understand the readings, SEE HIM DURING HIS OFFICE HOURS and he will gladly break it down for you. Good luck!

good prof. hilarious, swears. easy marker, but very lienient on due dates. so the excuse "my dog ate my homework" ...take it home to your momma cuz its not gonna work.

Wonderful prof, very witty sense of humor, and very approachable...one thing that seems odd about the prior comments, if someone has a problem you think the least they could do is formulate a proper sentence and spell check...nice lol!

Patrick is awesome, hes one of the most inspiring people i ever met...understands that life happens, and provides great support during the trying times. I highly recommend everyone to take his class. His kindness is never forgettable.

He is a no guff guy, if you show him respect then you will get it back. If you get something back and don't get the comments then go see him. Very approchable.

Patrick is a very engaging professor, I highly recommend any/all of his classes! He is extremely articulate, and very well-read. Great one-on-one chats during office hours- he makes challenging material comprehensible and fun! Lectures are informative and absolutely hilarious, you will look forward to going to class!

His teaching style probably isn't for everyone - lots of discussion - but if you read the material and come prepared with questions you'll do well. He has always been helpful and open-minded with me and my friends; if you put the work in, he treats you as a philosopher rather than a student. Very clear speaker, and never boring.

hmmmm.. Very nice guy, honest and good intentions... but not the best prof ever... his style won't suit just anybody... however he's very nice and very helpful so it's not hard to get a good mark. i personally got screwed over because of the TA

This class was excellent and surpassed my expectations. I urge students to appreciate the criticisms given by Phillips, they are in the constructive spirit (stop being so damn sensitive). Class discussion was frequent - a necessary part of any philosophy class and something i respect him for greatly. The material was fascinating and the lectures cl

I took meaning of life with him in the summer and got an A. Good prof, but his teaching style won't suit everyone. Some people were even offended by him. I think he only respects the students that respects him. He says hi when he sees you in the halls. Ill give him thumps up for sure.

Anyone in any field of study needs to take course?very transferable. Reading mat not expensive, easy to read, and very relative? you wouldn?t mind keeping. Prof very engaging nd promotes with peers? lots of discussions-great break from simply sitting quiet and being lectured to. Easily available for counsel via email or office hours about anything.

Great Prof. Easy tests as long as you listen in class. Has very interesting lectures, engages students and is very helpful. May seem a bit mean but is actually VERY nice if you talk to him. Has a HORRIBLE choice in TAs. Got screwed out of my A but i don't regret taking his class. Learned ALOT.

Awesome Prof really helpful and understanding.His lectures are clear and as long as you attend and pay attention the tests are straightforward. enjoyed his class a really nice prof:)

He is one of the best profs at York. He will truly open up your mind to ideas you would've never thought of (if you are willing to listen). He emphasizes learning over grading so you can stay worry free and enjoy learning (surprise, I know!). He got rid of the TAs so now he is in charge of the marking which should be fair.

Great lecturer and knows how to be funny without sidetracking the class or fishing for laughs. Very smart guy and fun to talk to in general.

One of the best professors at York! He has a really great attitude towards teaching, and probably life in general. Not a hard marker, but a fair one. If you are interested then you will likely do well in his courses. In the end, Phillips contributed much to the way I now think and philosophize, great guy and great prof.

Great prof, one of the best at York. Makes the material interesting and relevant. Also provides awesome and funny examples of the material. Last but not least, he is always available during office hours to answer any questions or help you philosophize through the material.

Very, very easy to get an A (20%+ for showing up to debates), but it can be frustrating if you want an A+. Reading the texts may or may not help. Received one test wherein the short answer Q's had no relevance at all to the text, requiring only a surface understanding. Tests cater to lowest common denominator. Frustratingly low expectations.

Really great prof.

Friendly and Outgoing Prof. He has a dry and slightly dark British sense of humour. He seemed very engaged and very interested in ensure to the best of his abilities that the classes follow the mood of the room. Wonderful memory and voice. REALLY seems to want people to want to be interested and improve the world around him

Great prof, really explains things well. Also, a very captivating speaker. Tests aren't really difficult.

Great professor! Funny, informative, GREAT lecture flow. The amount of work you put in will reflect your grade. HIGHLY recommend.

Professor Phillips is funny. Make sure u do the readings (as u should in every class) or u will be lost. Be careful not to text in class.. If he catches u playing on ur phone then he will own u.

Professor Phillips is a fun teacher. He is certainly not boring in his lectures. The material might get boring but Patrick will not. His tests are straightforward.. all of them are long answer or short answer questions. If you do everything right you should get an A. If you never even touch the book you might still pass provided you attended class.

Patrick is a great prof! He is clear and concise not to mention really fun. His lectures are always interesting , " Turn to the one you love and trust........." never gets old . Attend his lectures and actually try to adapt your own philosophical thoughts and your golden. One of my favs!

If anyone has a problem with this professor then they are just ill informed of his dry and sarcastic nature. One of and maybe the best professor at York. Empiricism and rationalism are philosophical material that are far from interesting, but he makes you see it from a different angle. The UK's missing an angel and it's not Princess Diana. :0)

Great professor. His teaching style is old school, which is the best way to learn philosophy. He is also very funny! Highly recommended.

He is a great professor, very funny and clear!

Great teacher! Very funny! And made the class engaging.

Professor Patrick is brilliantly smart and funny. He is clear, straight to the point and takes zero bs. By far, my favourite class ever.

Dr. Patrick is very good professor at York. He has all the qualities of a good professor. He is polite and sincere. He controls the class to the lowerest noise. Knowledgeable about what he teaches. He demonstrate whiles teaching. His class is never boring. His exams are direct from lectures. His is puntual & well organize. I wish to have him again.

Took my Gen. Ed and was pleasantly surprised: lectures were actually interesting to listen to, relatively easy to understand. I did little to no reading and still got a B+. He's actually interested in his students so talking to him will probably boost your mark a bit.

NO ESSAYS IN THIS COURSE! Instead, goal is to be able to hold an argument in daily life conversation. I am a science major and have trouble thinking abstractphilosophically but Pat Phillips made class very fun and interesting. Lots of "discussing with your neighbour". Very clear. Lots of funny stories & great examples. This class was a breeze!

Pat Phillips is as awesome prof. He literally just wants to know "What do YOU THINK? Is there a heaven? Do we have free will?" His goal is to teach students how to form & defend an argument... without having to write pointless essays and assignments. His goal is to expand student vocab and literally make u smarter. I really appreciated this class.

I am a Philosophy major and i make sure i am taking every single one of his classes. He is very clear, gives visual example's... Questions are not needed throughout lecture, because you have that time to go through any questions when going over theories with other colleagues in the class. Take his classes if you love Philosophy!

Love this course

Omg, he has got to be the best prof that i have ever had. A lot of readings but as long as u do them, u will pass the class. His jokes are funny too. I would totally take this class again

I loved this professor!!!! I wish he taught more classes! There are many readings but he is really nice and accomodates for anything unregular that pops up! His explanations are awesome! Got to meet new friends in the class and discuss interesting material!! Awesome prof awesome class! P.s tests are really easy if you do the work

Requires a lot of readings and attendance is a must since he gives hints on what's going to be on the test. He's very respectful, friendly, wants you to succeed and gives good feedback. His jokes are hilarious

I didn't really do anything besides show up everyday and take notes. A lot of readings but never did them, didn't even have the books and still got an A+. He gives hints on what will be on the exam randomly so come everyday or have a friend who does. Patrick is hilarious and is a great guy. I recommend this course to anyone as I am dumb & did great

He is funny at times and keeps the class alive. He doesn't use powerpoint he just talks but he is very clear and gives great examples. All test content is from the textbook besides the essay questions which are based on stuff from lectures. Just do the readings and its an easy A.

One of the best Philosophy Profs @ York University, unfortunate that he is not full-time or teaching more than one class per year, knows the topic he teaches inside/out. Approachable, kind and good sense of humor. Really inspires students to learn. Not a tough grader however do not take it for granted, show up, participate, learn & pass his course

Best prof at york ive had so far! lectures are full of examples and material that will help on tests. moderate reading, tests are very very fair as long as you come to class and do assigned readings. hes hilarious! always making jokes to keep you into the class.

Fantastic Prof! Have done a few classes with him. He is very approachable, is accommodating, and makes jokes often. He typically has a midterm test, and a final, with two debates. He encourages discussion with your neighbour, and often sets time aside to discuss topics with the people around you. He elaborates on the text in lecture.

Love Patrick! He's very passionate about what he is teaching, he's extremely funny and explains things multiple times to ensure everybody understands and also uses many examples to get his point across. He doesn't us moodle so you must attend lectures and take notes to pass his tests. Encourages students to participate but doesn't force anyone.

Amazing prof and he is hilarious!!!!Just go to lecture and pay attention and do the readings and your guaranteed a good mark. His test are straightforward and are not difficult. I would take another class with him again.

Hands down one of the best profs at york. not only is he an amazing prof but an amazing individual. he genuinely wants each and every one of his students to do well. hes very approachable, and super sweet. when talking about a concept he will make sure you understand it and drill it in your head by using realistic examples. take a class with him

Patrick is an awesome prof. He is extremely laid back and very accommodating. He doesn't do powerpoints and doesn't post course material on moodle so make sure you come to class or you could miss out on important material. Textbooks are pricey but I personally didn't buy them and got by nicely because he always emphasizes important theories for u!

Patrick was without doubt the best professor I've ever had. I only took PHIL 2200 with him so other people's experiences with other courses may differ. He kept me at the edge of my seat as he spoke and told his funniest stories ever. He will serve you with a cup of bitter truth and it is up to you to decide to drink it.

Patrick Phillips I had for Critical Reasoning we had 2 debates you just show up to and get a full 10% credit (just by signing the attendance even if you don't say stuff but just listen). We also had 3 fairly easy tests thrown in the mix and let me tell you I studied only 1 hour before each and on each one I got near perfect! Funny guy great prof!

Amazing prof. Hilarious, smart, caring, generally just a good guy. Doesn't use tech tho, so you must show up to class, but thats okay because he made my 3h lecture on a monday fly by! Take whatever class you can with him, you're nearly guaranteed an A, at least. Put in a tiny bit of effort and he'll give you that A+.

Very entertaining in lecture and teaches very well. He always makes sure to keep the lectures engaging and enjoyable for the best learning. He does look at participation heavily and often knows who doesn't show up. Lots of note-taking.

Good Prof. Easy course do the readings and you will do well. He knows his subject well maybe too well.

Hands down. He is the best professor at York University. He knows how to role and engage with the students.

Most Supportive Professor. Way better than any professors I have had in my 4 years of my time. Highly Recommend. York University should give him a full-time prof title instead of contract. He is very good!

#1 Prof I've had! He actually wants students to succeed, funny as hell. Very blunt and honest but in a good way. Lastly, very passionate about his teachings which is something I respect.

True university level class of discussing social problems based on philosophy. Patrick is really reasonable and smart. attendance is not mandatory but you will easily get a good grade if you don't skip classes

A class with exciting content, a great prof and a great mark at the end! He teaches complex ideas in the simplest way. He didn't use PowerPoint when I took his class, but if you listen in class, you will be fine. Attending class is not compulsory, but it will prove to be very helpful. He was very helpful during office hours and gave great feedback.

This class is SO fun! You can tell this guy loves what he teaches and it really shows. He gets you to debate your peers at the end of each class which is super fun if you're into that. Go to class, it will save you. and as long as you try to understand and simplify the concepts (and do the readings) you'll do great

Literally the best professor ever. He is so nice and teaches with a passion. He doesn't just put up a powerpoint and calls it a day, he actually bothers to teach you everything you need to know for the tests. If you attend classes and pay attention, you'll definitely get a good grade.

Cool guy with cool accent

Best prof i EVER had at this university. he genuinely cares about his students and their success. goes well out of his way to make us comfortable with class participation and is very open to people's ideas. so much respect for this man, you can tell he's passionate about what he teaches. he makes concepts very interesting AND easy to understand

Hes a great prof! I wish there were more like him!

Where do I start? In my last year I needed a humanities or MODR requirement. Prof Phillips was the best prof ive ever had in my 5 years at york. Show up to class and do your part by taking good notes with minimal textbook reading youre guaranteed an A/A+. Phillips gives you every opportunity to succeed and is very caring! Take his class!!!

This is was the easiest course i have ever taken. Go to class and take notes and that's about it. However, do not take this course if detailed note taking is not your thing.

This class was honestly so EASY. Come to class and write good notes and you'll pass with an A+. Test questions are straightforward and easy to answer. He is an easy mark when it comes to tests. He tries his best not to make the three hours boring. Would recommend taking this course with him for a high mark.

A professor sent from the heavens. Hes the BEST!

Professor Phillips's classes are highly informative, thought-provoking, and truly engaging. Participation is expected; however, this professor creates a respectful and safe environment for students to share their opinion. Highly recommended class lectured by a knowledgeable, caring, and committed professor.

Dr. Phillips was one of the best profs at York. I had him at 8:30 am and never missed a class. He doesn't post online so make sure you come to class because there are a lot of discussions between classmates and debates. He's funny and cares about his students. Listen to what he says in class as that's what his test questions are on, if so easy A!

I took this course during the 18/19 year. If you write down every word he says and just review your notes before tests then you'll be fine. It's an easy class, but don't let that undermine what he teaches. His lectures are great and there's value in what he teaches.

I really liked this class. He does a good job presenting the material in an interesting way and facilitating discussions

Great Prof! I learned so much in this class and hes really amazing at lecturing interesting topics. When I took it during COVID there were 4 essays and discussion posts we had to do, not too heavy workload

Very approachable and very nice prof. He answers the smallest questions without judgment and is very accommodating in regards to student availability. Has a good humor, and is very passionate and educated on the topics he teaches. Would definitely take a class with him again.!

I love him! He has a great sense of humour and his lectures are entertaining to listen to. Hes also very easy going. I would take another course with him any day.

Professor Phillips is one of the best I've had at York University. His enthusiasm for encouraging discourse across the varied course topics facilitates some fascinating back and forths that sometimes had me reevaluating my belief systems. Would love to take other courses with him!

HE IS JUST AMAZING ! DONT MISS HIS CLASS, IT IS SUPER FUN

Great prof. Good feedback on essays which are helpful for other courses as well. This course is a fantastic first year course to help with critical thinking and personal morals and principles.

I enjoyed Modes of Reasoning with Dr. Phillips, especially the course content and weekly Opinion papers! The ethical issues we discussed were really interesting, and I saw a great improvement in my ethics and morality skills. Essay based - no tests. Would recommend!

He is extremely knowledgeable and understanding. Professor Phillips will try his best for you to proceed with the course as best as possible. Just don't forget to attend the lectures of Q&As and discuss your concerns with him. I wish I could take another class with him so I highly recommend it.

MODR 1760 with Prof. Phillips has been an amazing experience. I've learnt a lot from this course. He can be tough when he wants you to back up your reasonings, but in the end you learn to think more logically which will be beneficial beyond this course. The course is essay based, he does all the marking himself and he is a very fair marker.

It has been great being in his class, his examples and explanations in the lectures were amazing!

Professor Phillips' class is a great experience. The lectures are engaging, and the course content really helps develop critical thinking skills. For study prep, I found unstuck AI and the textbook very helpful.

His lectures are interesting, discuss topics that can be controversial which encourages critical thinking & explores different perspectives. Very nice, lots of dad jokes and sometimes puts you on the spot with his jokes but it's all good haha. Easy tests and he expects you to participate in discussions. This class was like a breath of fresh air tbh

Love this Professor! Coherent and fruitful lectures. Made the subject extremely interesting. Tutorials were great as well!

Patrick makes his seminars quite entertaining, and as a philosophy major, this definitely by far was definitely one of the best classes I chose to take. Additionally, he cares for his students and provides help and accommodations as needed and as he sees fit, depending on the situation. I have never had a better professor so far at York.

Professor Philips is an outstanding instructor who makes complex philosophical ideas clear and enjoyable. He brings humor into every class and genuinely cares about students. He met with me after class to help my self confidence and gave me a book to expand my thinking and speaking skills. Highly recommend. Best professor I've ever had!

Lectures are very helpful, he explains complex concepts in an enjoyable way. He also makes the class engaging and is willing to help students. Very caring professor, highly recommend!

Patrick is an amazing prof, his lectures are engaging and one of my favourite classes to attend. Would definitely take another course led by him again.