PHIL 3310

Merricks is very enthusiastic and a prominent metaphysician... If you're a philosophy major, try to take metaphysics with Merricks, though I hear Cargile's class is good as well. They will focus on different topics. The class is tough and the 2 exams and final paper are graded comparatively (against other students). Exams are straight forward. You do 2 drafts before turning in the final paper.

This class was definitely a challenge, but Trenton Merricks is such an enthusiastic guy that it's definitely worth the time and effort.

Great for Phil majors; this is not the class to take if you have not yet taken any philosophy or have and struggle with it. Merricks is very hard and grades on a curve with the best few students getting As, but he is one of the best profs at UVA -- heck he won an award for it!

If you have had philosophy of religion with Trenton, you know what to expect. This class is structured the same way, except one test is replaced by a paper. You do three drafts of the paper, which certainly makes you write a better paper than you normally would have, but since Trenton grades on a strict curve with only the best students getting A's, and since every student does three drafts, your grade will probably be about the same as it is in other phil classes....sad.

Great sense of humor. Trenton grades on a strict curve. Be sure to take notes in class. Overall, a good experience.

Great class. Difficulty can easily depend on background in philosophy. This was the last class I needed for my major and I found it to be pretty easy.

Fun but difficult class... well, maybe not that difficult. Make sure you go to class and take notes, then you should be fine in the two tests. For the paper, you'll do two drafts before turning in the final one, and Merrick's comments on the paper were really helpful. Just follow whatever he said.

Incredible class, incredible professor. This is why I'm a philosophy major.

This is an awesome course if you like philosophy! Merricks is the best teacher I've had at UVA. Theres almost no homework, but there is a paper. (about 10 pages). He walks you through the whole thing though so It's not bad

If you took Phil Religion, this is the same style. You work through readings, take two non-cumulative tests and write a term paper. He grades on a curve.

Merricks is the best philosophy teacher in the department and his classes are always entertaining and fun. You learn a ton and its really fun.

However, this class is HARD. Readings are NOT easy and the difficulty level is tough. Take multiple Philosophy Classes before you take this one.