4.6
Quality2.5
Difficulty82%
Would Retake116
Reviews82%
Would Retake
116
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
92
4
17
3
1
2
4
1
2
What Students Say
“The Best Prof at St Johns”
PHI3650 - 5.0 rating“Best professor in St John's”
PHI3650 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
77%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.58 avg changeRatings by Course
1000
5.0
(1)ETHICSLAN
5.0
(1)PHI2200
5.0
(7)EYTHICS
5.0
(1)HONMETA
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
PHI2220
3.5
PHI3000C
3.5
1000
3.0
HONMETA
3.0
2200ETHIC
3.0
Reviews (116)
Extremeley gifted teacher, fair minded, cares about his students, interesting!
His Aristotle and Ethics are good, the morals section is a stacked deck.
Quality teacher, but his tests were hard.
very nice guy, but very hard with his test
very intelligent, interesting, pay attention in his class and you'll do well
No Comments
Great Teacher, one of only a few great scholars here at SJU
No Comments
No Comments
If you want to learn about Kant, Mill, and Aristotle, take him. If not, don't. But he's a good person, a good professor, and very easygoing on discussiongs--but don't mess up on tests, or else
A true genius, brilliant and caring. What every prof. should hope to be...his class is amazing, and not difficult if you go, or at least get the notes.
Very nice guy, very clear and thorough with information, tests and grading are very fair, not a boring class at all!
First of all, what a hottie!...he's clear and actually interesting. Take part in discussion and you'll be good. Notes can be used towards exact test questions. Inexpensive books a plus. I wish he taught everything at St. JOhns's.
One of the best at SJU! He made me want to major in PHIL. Very interesting and intelligent. He actually knows what he is talking about and makes sure you understand it too! Exams are simple, but make sure you know your stuff.
The Best Philosophy professor of all time. His lectures are entertaining, you will never want to miss one, he breaks down the material so it relates to our everyday lives and thought process.
very good teacher and a nice guy
I cant say enough noce things about him, and he's hot. If you're the kind that likes to participate he's for you, if not i just dont think youll enjoy him as much, but he's an ideal professor
The best teacher I had during my freshman year. His class was the best, so good that when I rarely missed a class, I actually felt bad. I took him for two semesters, for philosophy 1000 and ethics and they were both great. A teacher i'll remember.
The most enjoyable class I took at SJU. He is fun, and makes things interesting. Helpful, fun, easy going, but serious about teaching. You'll learn much if you want to apply yourself.
Dr. Gaffney is simply the best philosophy professor at St.John's. As long as you pay attention you shouldn't have problems with the readings or the exams because he explains everything well and emphasizes what you should know for the exams.
By far the best teacher I've ever had. I even took the class discussions outside of class and into my household. They were that interesting. His class is wonderful.
He's a nice guy and there are some interesting topics and class discussions. There are four tests all essay. This determines the grade. Doesnt take attendance. His grading of tests is weird at times. He seems to take off points for no clear or good reason
He's an awesome teacher. It's not ultra easy but he explains it to a point where it's understandable. Some stuff can be boring but then again, it's philosophy. He's great!!!!!!
Wonderful... I learned a lot in his class. Not only did I learn, but the exams were FAIR. Always in his office to help. Thank you Paul Gaffney
I didn't even buy the book and still got an A- on the test for that theme. Very informative lectures and not boring to listen to..Recommended!
I took this guy for three classes for the two years I was at St. John's (as a transfer student). He literally changed my life!! Best Teacher...EVER. I truly feel like he opened my eyes to everything that I now love and appreciate in life.
extremely hot and sexy...girls, you'll want to marry him. a superb teacher, the most brilliant and intelligent man alive. clarity is his middle name.
Great Professor! One of the best! Super intelligent!
v understanding prof. explains everything well and will even bump ur grade if u go into his office and philosophisize on some matters wid him but he's not an easy one. really have to know ur stuff and earn that grade. Good Luck..!!!
He is the nicest professor in the world! He helps you out whenever you need him. His tests are fair and he explains everything very clearly. I recommend taking his class.
Great teacher..made mye enjoy philsophy...makes class enjoyable
Perhaps the greatest professor I'll ever have. He makes you a better writer if you really try to get good marks on his tests.
I love you Professor Gaffney. What a hottie :)
great ethics professor....definitely knows how to teach and in a way that is clear, understandable, and interesting
GREAT TEACHER!!! very clear and very understanding. he grades a little harder than most teachers however if you go to his office to talk about it he'll bump your grade up! if you prepare your essays and memorize them youll do great!
hnrs ethics with him was the best class i took at sju -- until i took philosophy of law. NO professor explains things so amazingly well and allows you to learn so so much. plus, yeah, he's dreamy.
He is definitely hot!! He is kind and helpful. Exams are essay type. usually 3 essay each test! not really hard. he sort of give you the hint what he is going to give in the test. I recommend him!! getting A in his class is not a problem!~
makes verything clear and interesting
He is the most awesome professor. Definately, recommend u taking him. He is so Hotttttt I almost fall in love with him. Kiddin!
Very easy. Stay attentive in class. All tests are essays. Very receptive and helpful. Young and willing to answer any questions or look at different perspectives. Not too intense with attendance. Easy A if you pay attention in class.
I think he is a great professor. He describes the material so clearly and makes you understand it so well. All of his tests are essays and as long as you pay attention in class, youll do good.
good!
Gaffney is the man. He makes philosophy so interesting, 3 tests all fairly easy. I got an A- but didn't study or work much at all for it. He makes sure you know everything before the tests which are all essays but simple ones. MUST TAKE!!
He was a great teacher. He made a boring subject extremely interesting by relating it to life. I took him once and I am going to take him again. If i could take him I would take him over and over. He is a very nice man and he's cute.
Great teacher! Makes the subject interesting! If you show up, it is not possible to fail! Do not have to read everything, he outlines the important parts! Goes over the tests ahead of time, don't know how anyone can have problems!
This professor is not only hot but helpful. He is really cool, relates the material to real life and tells you the truth about life and philosophers. He really makes you think and makes the material interesting. He sees a students dedication! It's very important. TAKE HIM!
I loved this class, it was so laid back didn't ever feel like work. The class was actually interesting, he gives the clearest notes ever and repeats stuff all the time, doesn't care about attendance or lateness and is a really great teacher. Take him, you'll love him and get an A, I did.
He was one of the best philosophy professors. Very clear on his teachings, if you want an A, go to class and take good notes, even if he doesn't take attendance, it's good to go if you want that A and participate when you can.
Not only is Gaffney hot, he has the perfect method for teaching students. His own words: "Don't read the chapter until after we've gone over it in class.Talk to me in class about your opinions as if we were out having a beer after class. No homework, just read" interesting, wellversed in subject matter and KIND. understanding to personal problems.
great prof i rarely went to class and never bought the books, i got a B-take him o yea he is very clear i actually understood some of the philosophy crap he was attempting to teach me
Gaffney is genius, funny, and unfortunately a Red Sox fan. But he's still the man. I pretty much minored in Philosophy in his classes. Best Professor at SJU hands down.
Extremely intelligent, nice, clear...takes what could be a boring subject and makes it interesting and engaging. Gives essay exams, but tells you what's going to be on it. They're usually two or three questions whose answers don't have to be pages long in order to get credit. He looks for a concise and thorough understanding of the material, not for how much you can write. Attendance is a must because he explains the readings in class very thoroughly, and it's a bit difficult to grasp it on your own.
Only Prof. in Philosphy dept. worth taking. I ended up minoring in philosophy of law b/c of him. Even though the material isn't easy, he makes it seem like it is. And he's very helpful for letters of recommendation.
He is one of the BEST philosophy professors. TAKE HIM! You'll learn. Class is fun and if you go to class and take good notes, you'll do FINE. He's real nice, don't take him for granted! LOVED HIM! he's the professor that made philosophy interesting (FINALLY!)
One of the best teachers I have ever had. Makes philosophy easy to understand and exciting. Relates real life cases very well. He is awesome!
Everything everyone says is true: he's a great professor. I just want to caution everyone and say that he is not easy. He is a hard grader. So, just be careful.
awesome Profesor! gave out only 3 tests but taught in a way you could not screw up. made learning ethics fun. and didn't make you feel stupid when you didn't understand something. awesome awesome teacher...don't pass him up.
this guy is the best! take him ! His class was easy, he explains everything so well. If you have any questions he answers them all. He starts up intelligent conversations in class and his tests are essays. He gives you hints on what they will be about and is a very fair grader. His class was one of the few that people enjoyed going to.
he is a very scholarly person and is an expert in his field. he is extremely capable of clarifying difficulties in ethical discussions and a very competent professor. he grades fairly and is an avid fan of Kant. he made ethics fun and easy. thanks.
Prof Gaffney in a nutshell: Master. He is the archetypal Mentor and Educator. For those very serious about Philosophia, Gaffney is the Socrates of the department at St. John's College. Your life will change after you take any of his courses in Ethics, PHI of Law, PHI of Language, and the PHI Seminar. Modesty is his crowning virtue. MUST experience!
Gaffney is the King. If you want a top notch intellectual experience, take this class. His tests are all essay (be detailed when writing). He can be difficult but possible to get an A. Make sure to study what he underlines in the book and to take a lot of notes.
GREAT PROFESSOR! loved his class
GreatProfessor, Very Clear, Keeps you engaged. Im taking the Philosophy of Law class right now and I thurly enjoy it. Its no peice of cake but you learn a lot. Just take notes and u are sure to get an A. Highly recommend if you're interested in Law or just as an elective.
He is one of the very best teachers on this planet, maybe the best. He is brilliant, decent and compassionate. There's no one better to teach philosphy and very few who can even compare.
WOW! what an amazing man! i am absolutely in LOVE with his intelligence & ability to communicate his knowledge is incredible! i LOVE being in his class its my favorite<3 & might i add, very sexy in that george cloony way =)
Gaffney is an AWESOME professor!!! He made class so interesting. I love Philosophy because of him. He doesnt take attendance, but you should go to class and take notes because it helps on his exams. You have to work for an A though. No homework, just 3 essay exams and a 3-4 pg term paper.
Brilliant. Best class i have taken at st john's.
Omg. Let me first say I am not a slacker, I am an A student and I get my work done...but this class is not what its cracked up to be.this was the most misleading rating ever, he's not hot one bit either. It was hard to pay attention and the ESSAY tests were HARD.Forget about sharing your point of view on them like he says. YOULL DEF GET A C-. LAME.
i studied more than i did for any test...including state exams/SATS....and i still got a B+....never worked so hard in my life...and still..did not get the A i worked hard for. very frustrating. take someone else if you want to up your GPA. not working hard at all in this class...will get you a D. HARD WORK FOR NOTHING. ..NEXT PROFESSOR!
Prof Gaffney is a great teacher. I hardly or did not study for his exams and got an A. He explains everything so clearly and if you pay attention you will do great. He re-explains the material numerous times so it really sinks in. Great prof. and he made class interesting.
One of the most articulate professors at St. John's. Very passionate about what he's teaching. Exceeded my expectations of the class. Basically, go to class, take good notes, and you'll be fine on his tests. Very approachable as well. Helped me develop my own philosphy of the human person.
One of the most brilliant professors at SJU. very approachable. but it's not an easy A. go to class and take good notes. Participate if you want him to remember your name and get a good grade. If you do good on his tests and are engaged in class discussion, you'll get a B+ at least. TAKE HIM!
Dr. Gaffney is a fantastic teacher. He explains everything in a clear and succinct way and reinforces important ideas again and again. Classes were really entertaining with his anecdotes. Definitely not an easy A, but a great class nonetheless.
A GREAT class for prospective lawyers (more so than for philosophers). Prof's explanations are very clear, but somewhat repetitive and perhaps a little too simple. Thus it's very tempting, but not advisable, to neglect the readings. Prof is extremely helpful, accommodating, and kind, yet firm in his evaluations. Very lively class discussions.
Hands down the best prof ever in the entire school. Easy and at the same time you learn stuff.
The Best Prof at St Johns. it is hard to find great professors at st johns but Gaffney is one of them. he is fair and always willing to help. anyone interested in law school should talk to him. do well on the term paper and pay attention in class and you will get an A.
Really interesting prof who knows his stuff. Wants students to participate. I had a great class who was very opinionated and he likes discussion. Encourages differences in opinion. Do the readings, quizes are easy if you do and keep on top of the final paper! Midterm and final are easy if you give what he asks for and read. AWESOME, LEARNED A LOT!
Gaffney is such a nice guy! Not afraid to throw in a joke or two, and the class is pretty lighthearted and fun.
Smart guy, grade is based on three or four short essays-below 350 words- and a three tests which are also essays. If you go to class and take notes you will never have to read. He appreciates if you have your own opinion.
he is a smart guy and knows what he is talking about. his lectures will help u a LOT so attend class and take notes. kinda dry and slow. 3 in class short essays and 3 take home. u can discuss your grade, he is very open to it and encourages it. pretty tough grader tho. if u take him, develop a relationship with him. nice guy, but kinda tough grader
Best professor in St John's. Must take him only because he has the ability to not only teach you how to critically think, but to question your beliefs. He won't let you fail and help you if you are (highly unlikely). He's very laid back & funny! Take him as much as you can.
Honestly, Gaffney pushes you to open your mind and see things from different perspectives and it's amazing. His class made me want to be a philo minor. He's intelligent and an excellent professor, fair grader and the workload isn't too heavy. He's funny, understanding, intelligent, and kinda hot in his own way. I would deff take him again.
Online course was one of the best I took. Weekly posts on Discussion Board and three papers (2 short one and 1 long). Would not hesitate to recommend Dr Gaffney or to take him again.
He's a really good professor and really engages his students but it's almost impossible to get a A+ on any of his tests because he's really picky
This guy is the best. He gives a bit of work but it's honestly not boring and useless. He's a genuine, talented professor and you will almost definitely enjoy his class. Do yourself a favor and give him a try.
It is definitely not easy to get an A in this class - you need to prove that you're worthy of it. He gives four exams, each worth 25% of your grade (the final is what determines your grade though). Make sure to take good notes!
Such an amazing professor! If you miss a class youll be fine because he goes over topics in depth a few times and will explain stuff in different ways so everyone can understand. The books he assigns are interesting and hes very passionate about them so it makes listening to his lecture enjoyable.
3 topics based on people , and 3 short essays throughout entire semester , and 3 exams based on each person. Amazing and helpful professor. Always answers emails and is extremely considerate. For a 3 hour class, it really isn't bad at all. Do your work and you'll be ok. Take him
Dr. Gaffney is amazing! He gives out great feedback in your assigned papers. You should participate in class discussions as well as turning your assignments on-time in order to get a good grade. He also hands out easy-to-read notes about the assigned readings so students can understand the complex works, interpreted by Gaffney.
Dr. Gaffney is awesome. He gives out notes for assigned readings, in which he interpret the key points from the readings, in order for students can get better understanding. Next, Dr. Gaffney is also helpful. Hes helpful by offering great feedback to our submitted term papers and exams. As long as you put in the effort, youll get a good grade.
For me personally Prof Gaffney was a bit grumpy and arrogant. The comments which I received were a bit too generic, so I got the impression that my work wasn't properly read. I'm glad for those who have had a positive experience with the course though.
Hands down one of my favorite classes at SJU. Prof Gaffney is amazing and his lectures are really interesting. He really cares about the students and will dive into questions with meaningful answers and insight. Honestly, one of the best professors at the school imo, and I know my classmates think the same. Youre missing out if you dont take him.
He's a great guy but a tough grader. There's twelve case study assignments, a midterm, final, and a term paper. For the whole semester, he's been giving me A-/A and I didn't know what those meant - so not a very clear grading policy.
My favorite professor this semester!!!! Some of the work was hard but you know! Hes so nice and he helped the students a lot
EXCELLENT professor. You get great value from his online class. Straight forward and easy weekly case studies from the textbook. Prepares and reviews with class for midterm and final, both are very fair short response tests. Lectures were engaging and interesting. Answers any questions in class and through emails. Highly recommend.
Grading Criteria is NOT clear. Hell grade a paper and give you one or two sentences in feedback. This wouldnt be a problem if he was handing out As but this was the first class I ever got B+ in on assignments. Also, although he tries to hide his political bias, (clearly liberal) I really do think it comes through on his grading.
Took online + synchronous: lectures are better if you participate, don't love how textbook-based the class is (a little boring) but he breaks things down to an easy level. Short response hw every week, midterm and final with essays, and 1 short paper. Good class, applicable philosophy. Not a lot of feedback but fair grader. Textbook is free online
weekly homework, which is your opinion on a case study. term paper 500-700 words, midterm, and final.
I took PHI 3000C in the summer and it wasn't so bad with professor Gaffney. There's a paper due every Monday and Wednesday based off of the prior readings. There's also two exams. He gives feedback on the papers.
He's an amazing professor! I wish he taught classes in the Spring too. Weekly quizzes that he gives potential questions to in advance, term paper, midterm and final and Moot Court arguments every week. He's very approachable and teaches the material in a way where everyone can understand the complex and heavy philosophy ideas clearly. TAKE HIM!!
He's a very passionate teacher and it's pretty clear through his lecture. My 3 hour class with him was really digestible and his grading is tougher but very fair. Pay attention in his class and ask for help when you need, and you'll be set. Super interesting guy with relatively interesting and straightforward lectures.
Hes very passionate and always available for help. Quizzes are based upon the things he says in class but he also writes out very detailed notes to share with the class afterwards.
Amazing professor! I don't think I would have understood or even liked philosophy even I didn't take his class. There were 3 exams and 3 short essays. He gives you amazing notes with everything you need to know! He's super passionate about the topic and his lectures are interesting and easy to understand!
One of the Best Phil Profs. He goes over each book and tells you what important quotes/sections of the book mean. Getting the books he tells you to get because by having the actual book you can highlight and take notes as he reads through them in class. Pay attention and you'll be set for the 3 tests there are. There are also 2 take-home essays.
Harsh Grader , doesn't make sense and is arrogant
Definitely competent in what he says in his lectures. Stressful class because you have quizzes, lots of readings & Moot Court every week, so pay attention to his lectures! A tough grader when it came to the midterm, paper, and final. For the paper he was not really specific on what he wanted, but other than that, the class was very tough but good.
No extra credit. Rude in his feedback if you're struggling. Discussion posts and reading weekly. Don't take him! Discussion posts and comments=50% 3 exams=50%. Essays are penalized at least one letter grade, absent a serious documented reason for your lateness.
Took him for Honors Ethics, his lectures were very conversation based and actually interesting to listen to. He writes important notes for you to copy and makes review sheets for each exam. 3 essay tests in class and 2 take home essays.
2 take home essays and 3 essay exams, take homes were very brief and interesting and exams weren't too crazy. Definitely a stricter grader but gives good feedback and you get the hang of it after the first paper before the first exam. Was very frightened by his reviews as ethics isn't my strong suit but ended up doing very well
I'm taking Dr. Gaffney for Philosophy of Law. He has a great work ethic, and responds to emails briskly. You can tell he is passionate about the subject and caring. The class has weekly moot courts that are super entertaining to participate in. Grades are comprised of that, 'take home' exams and quizzes, and a term paper. Definitely take him.
Positives: Exams aren't very difficult, ends class 30 minutes early, responsive to emails. Negatives: Tough grader, rarely gives out an A & it isn't clear how you can get one, weekly case studies can be tedious. Just be in class and be ready to devote at least 2 hours to write your weekly case study & read the chapters. Final isn't cumulative.
Professor Gaffney has a rigorous system, but engaging with it pays off. The workload can be heavy, but study tools like Unstuckstudy complement the textbook well. Overall, it's a challenging yet rewarding course if you stay on top of the assignments.
Such a sweet and funny guy. You do need to read a couple of passages, but the tests are not hard at all, you'll do fine if you just pay attention and review a little. Overall, it was a very interesting and inspirational class, 10/10 would recommend. He's also understanding when it comes to late assignments and absences.
Best professor. Most interesting lectures I have ever had, and prof always is available after class. Gaffney's class format is also the best I have had, weekly case studies he gives feedback on and 3 exams all essay. You get to voice your opinion freely in class and also learn how to write better in the process. If you get the option TAKE HIM.
Honestly super sweet. He isn't super happy abt phones and will just ask for you to put it away but your good with using computers iyk what i mean. His lectures are really really long so everyone does kinda fall asleep but he gives breaks. He gives study guides for the tests and notes in class are almost directly from the test. never gives out A+
This is a man who is truly passionate about what he teaches, caring, and SUPER accessible. There were weekly moot courts, quizzes, and readings. He is a bit of a tough grader, but you get what you deserve from how much you put into the work. It was great pleasure taking his class; you 100% learn from it. Great man, definitely recommend his class!!!
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
77%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.58 avg changeRatings by Course
1000
5.0
(1)ETHICSLAN
5.0
(1)PHI2200
5.0
(7)EYTHICS
5.0
(1)HONMETA
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
PHI2220
3.5
PHI3000C
3.5
1000
3.0
HONMETA
3.0
2200ETHIC
3.0