Intro to Political Philosophy

This course is very content heavy so beware. But besides that, Professor Fram is a great lecturer and is very passionate about his teachings. I found that the things I learned we're very nuanced, but if you really engage in the materials he provides you there is a large reward in taking this class. Fram is a character, but I would argue that course-wise, this is one of the hardest intro poli-sci classes. The exams are challenging, but if you do the readings you would do fine. If this class is required for you, definitely take it with Fram.

This course is very content heavy so beware. But besides that, Professor Fram is a great lecturer and is very passionate about his teachings. I found that the things I learned we're very nuanced, but if you really engage in the materials he provides you there is a large reward in taking this class. Fram is a character, but I would ar …Read more

Murry Dry is a legend at Middlebury for a reason. He is extremely sharp and even though the content of the course is complex, he does a great job of ensuring that his student's understand it. Overall, this course was a lot of reading and a lot of work outside of class, but extremely rewarding. Don't expect an A.

Great course. Understand that the more you put into this course, the more you will get out of it. The readings are hard but if you fully commit you will learn so much. It will make you a champion reader and it will help you understand so much about why we think the way we do about government and civil society

Intense but worth the effort you put into it. I have found the content of this course to be very interesting and have really enjoyed it so far. Prof. Dry has high expectations of his students, and you must be prepared for each class (you will be called on). I am not a huge fan of how you are graded in this class as you only have two exams and a paper over the course of the semester, but I do think Prof. Dry grades fairly. Overall, this course has been a great experience, and I would highly recommend others take it as well.

Intense but worth the effort you put into it. I have found the content of this course to be very interesting and have really enjoyed it so far. Prof. Dry has high expectations of his students, and you must be prepared for each class (you will be called on). I am not a huge fan of how you are graded in this class as you only have two …Read more

Professor Dry's class is a great course. I would say if one is extremely demanding in the readings, the lectures are far from enough and going to office hours constantly may be a great option. But in comparison to other classes, this is reading intensive and rewarding. One's reading habit is changed in this course as it really requires a lot of care and patience in treating the materials, rereading is common if one quests for more. Dry is a nice professor. He is demanding, yes, but in a way that he wants everyone to keep up with the class and benefit from those rich readings. Cold calls are common but it is not a problem if one is keeping up with the class regarding readings and lectures. One will never get a cold call if he or she is always on pace and Professor would never expect one to make impossible generalisations out of the text. Be diligent, and he will always be supportive. Regarding exams, he is a very fair grader and gives extremely detailed comments and changes. Those are very rare opportunities and hence everyone who is interested to take such a journey should be right on board.

Professor Dry's class is a great course. I would say if one is extremely demanding in the readings, the lectures are far from enough and going to office hours constantly may be a great option. But in comparison to other classes, this is reading intensive and rewarding. One's reading habit is changed in this course as it really requir …Read more

PSCI 101 is a great opportunity to read a series of fundamental texts that form the basis of so much of modern political thought. Professor Dry is a tough but fair teacher who is extremely knowledgeable in the material and will break down the overarching points and key minor details you might have missed from the readings. He cold calls religiously which can be intimidating at first but will usually try and help you to the right answer. The course is reading heavy but only has three graded assignments: a mid term, final exam, and final paper.

PSCI 101 is a great opportunity to read a series of fundamental texts that form the basis of so much of modern political thought. Professor Dry is a tough but fair teacher who is extremely knowledgeable in the material and will break down the overarching points and key minor details you might have missed from the readings. He cold ca …Read more

Incredibly intense and thought provoking. Murray Dry will make you think at a level that very few other people will make you do. Reading are long, dense, and essential for success in the course. However, the works that are studied are some of the most important and impactful works of writing that have ever been written. You will, at times, feel lost and confused. Murray Dry cares deeply for the educational and learning process and understands that things may not always be clear. He WILL cold call, especially when you are visibly zoned out in class. There are only 3 grades that you will receive throughout the semester so each assignment is high-stakes. This is the type of class that changes and shapes your world view. You might be initially intimidated by the amount of reading, Murray Dry's reputation, or the harsh grading, but this class is a must take in my opinion.

Incredibly intense and thought provoking. Murray Dry will make you think at a level that very few other people will make you do. Reading are long, dense, and essential for success in the course. However, the works that are studied are some of the most important and impactful works of writing that have ever been written. You will, at …Read more

Intro to Political Philosophy is not for the faint of heart. Murray Dry is an excellent teacher but is all business, so staying on top of the readings is EXTREMELY important. But if you are willing to commit to understanding the works of a dozen different philosophy books in the same number of weeks, I guarantee this will be one of the most rewarding classes you will ever take.

PSCI 101 is not a course for the weak or unprepared. If you are considering taking a course that requires minimal effort, this class isn't for you. This class will force you to critically engage with the readings (usually more than 50 pages per lesson). Professor Dry is extremely passionate about teaching, and his teaching style keeps you on your toes, as he will cold-call. He is an effective teacher, and you will succeed once you demonstrate an interest in understanding the material. He gives us chances for further learning outside the classroom by updating us about any lectures or talks happening in the Political Science Department. Overall, I would only recommend this course if you intend to major in Political Science or have a profound interest in Philosophy.

PSCI 101 is not a course for the weak or unprepared. If you are considering taking a course that requires minimal effort, this class isn't for you. This class will force you to critically engage with the readings (usually more than 50 pages per lesson). Professor Dry is extremely passionate about teaching, and his teaching style keep …Read more

Prof. Fram is clearly enthusiastic about the course material, very effective in conveying ideas in lectures, and one of the best professors I've had at Middlebury. There are weekly quizzes that usually were not too difficult if you did the reading and several papers throughout the semester. I would highly recommend taking this course with Prof. Fram.

Prof. Dry is a Middlebury legend for a reason. He is incredibly smart, passionate and knowledgable about the material. Although the reading is difficult, he makes sure the class understands it at a high and thorough level. Be prepared for cold calls, and be ready to be critiqued for clear public speaking skills and coherent and concise answers. This is a difficult but fun and engaging course that improves your reading comprehension and listening comprehension. Do not expect an A.

Prof. Dry is a Middlebury legend for a reason. He is incredibly smart, passionate and knowledgable about the material. Although the reading is difficult, he makes sure the class understands it at a high and thorough level. Be prepared for cold calls, and be ready to be critiqued for clear public speaking skills and coherent and conci …Read more

Daniel Fram is a gem whose passion for the course material make the subject matter even more compelling. The reading can be a ton of work sometimes, but spark notes can come in handy and as long as you take notes in class you are fine. Fram challenges students the most in discussions when he pushes back, which I felt rewarding as it made me think more about what I really believe. Great course, would highly recommend.

Daniel Fram is a gem whose passion for the course material make the subject matter even more compelling. The reading can be a ton of work sometimes, but spark notes can come in handy and as long as you take notes in class you are fine. Fram challenges students the most in discussions when he pushes back, which I felt rewarding as it …Read more

There is a lot of reading for this course, and most course materials are hard to understand from the first time. Sometimes, you may need to spend a good chunk of your time reading and looking up resources. However, Professor Dry is well aware of the density of the materials. So, he tries to explain the most important parts in class. But, you will still need to research more on your own or visit his office hour

There is a lot of reading for this course, and most course materials are hard to understand from the first time. Sometimes, you may need to spend a good chunk of your time reading and looking up resources. However, Professor Dry is well aware of the density of the materials. So, he tries to explain the most important parts in class. …Read more

Dry is a legendary professor. He is old-fashioned and demanding in the classroom, calling his students Mr. ____ or Ms. ____. The reading is intense and fast paced, but if you have a genuine interest and work ethic in the topic, Dry makes it very rewarding.

This course is definitely an experience...not a bad one, though! It's heavy on reading, and skipping assignments might mean getting called out or put on the spot. The readings are dense, and lectures cover only a small portion, but you’ll still want to keep up on your own. If you want to read some classic literature, this is the course to take as finding the motivation to read Plato's Republic anywhere else is nearly impossible.

This course is definitely an experience...not a bad one, though! It's heavy on reading, and skipping assignments might mean getting called out or put on the spot. The readings are dense, and lectures cover only a small portion, but you’ll still want to keep up on your own. If you want to read some classic literature, this is the cour …Read more

Daniel Fram is a great person and cares very deeply about what he teaches. That said, I had a really hard time in this class. The readings took so long and we had a discussion and "quiz" every week that required a very thorough knowledge of the readings. These quizzes required very specific answers. The essays were extremely reasonable and he is a very fair grader. He was also very accommodating. Overall, Professor Fram is a great teacher for some but he was not great for me.

Daniel Fram is a great person and cares very deeply about what he teaches. That said, I had a really hard time in this class. The readings took so long and we had a discussion and "quiz" every week that required a very thorough knowledge of the readings. These quizzes required very specific answers. The essays were extremely reasonab …Read more

You have to be comfortable being cold-called, and he likes to interrogate students answers. He also runs over time a lot, I wouldn't schedule anything 15 minutes or fewer after. The material can be really dense, but there are many valuable alternate resources on the internet. The mid-term was basically an info-dump in-class essay, and you will only get a total of 3 graded assignments in the course. If you really care about grades, I wouldn't advise you take it. However, if you are interested in the materials, you will find some of the lectures and discussion sessions helpful in unpacking parts of them you wouldn't have paid attention to.

You have to be comfortable being cold-called, and he likes to interrogate students answers. He also runs over time a lot, I wouldn't schedule anything 15 minutes or fewer after. The material can be really dense, but there are many valuable alternate resources on the internet. The mid-term was basically an info-dump in-class essay, an …Read more

This course was hard but worth it, lot of reading, would not recommend for first year students unless used to reading 100 plus pages per class. Good at explaining content, but need to show up to lectures.

Dr. Fram was an extremely knowledgable about the texts, and I thought did a great job of explaining them so that we as a class could make our own opinions on what is the best regime or what is justice for example. Lectures were super engaging, and my writing analytical skills greatly improved taking his course. If you dissected passages and presented them in a coherent manner, you would get an A on papers. A decent volume in terms of reading (keep in mind, coming from a STEM student), but well worth putting in the time.

Dr. Fram was an extremely knowledgable about the texts, and I thought did a great job of explaining them so that we as a class could make our own opinions on what is the best regime or what is justice for example. Lectures were super engaging, and my writing analytical skills greatly improved taking his course. If you dissected passa …Read more

I personally really like the challenge - if you take this class be open to fumbling when answering questions but learning a lot. A TON of reading, pretty much at least 30 pages (and up to 80 pages) per class. Not all of it is covered in detail in class but you are expected to be quite familiar with all of it. Material is engaging if you engage with it. Makes you think about important topics like justice, human nature, the point of life, hard trade-offs, etc. Exams are essays, only three graded assignments so kind of intense pressure on those but preparation means a lot. Professor Dry's energy is great (sometimes aggressive but you know it's not ill-intentioned), his passion drives students and the class.

I personally really like the challenge - if you take this class be open to fumbling when answering questions but learning a lot. A TON of reading, pretty much at least 30 pages (and up to 80 pages) per class. Not all of it is covered in detail in class but you are expected to be quite familiar with all of it. Material is engaging if …Read more

Fram is great and enthusiastic about the material for sure. There is a lot of in-depth reading of some of history's greatest political philosophers that is interesting, but time-consuming. We had 3 major papers, final, and weekly reading quizzes. Fram is nice but for me he could have been clearer on some parts during discussions and sometimes lectures because they could seem a little all over the place making it hard to follow along.

Fram is great and enthusiastic about the material for sure. There is a lot of in-depth reading of some of history's greatest political philosophers that is interesting, but time-consuming. We had 3 major papers, final, and weekly reading quizzes. Fram is nice but for me he could have been clearer on some parts during discussions and …Read more

The classes are nearly all lecture style. typically 50-70 pages of reading per long class, and a quiz each discussion period. He is a fair grader and usually will give you points if you can mention the terms/concepts he is looking for even if the rest of your answer is just fluff. Doing the readings is helpful, but the texts are generally meaningless without also finding a summary and paying good attention in class. Understanding his lectures are far more important than doing the readings, but having read a summary of the text is essentially mandatory to do well on the quizzes. Overall, the class is a bit challenging, but Fram is a fun and interesting professor.

The classes are nearly all lecture style. typically 50-70 pages of reading per long class, and a quiz each discussion period. He is a fair grader and usually will give you points if you can mention the terms/concepts he is looking for even if the rest of your answer is just fluff. Doing the readings is helpful, but the texts are gene …Read more

Fram has super engaging lectures that clarify difficult and often boring texts. I would not like this class if he wasn't so great of a lecturer. Discussions are enjoyable and although there is a quiz each week, they're quite easy and you just have to have a general idea of what the author's main ideas are and pay close attention in lecture to do well. There are two short papers spread throughout the semester and a final exam. The papers are honestly fun to write. I would recommend this course with Fram for sure.

Fram has super engaging lectures that clarify difficult and often boring texts. I would not like this class if he wasn't so great of a lecturer. Discussions are enjoyable and although there is a quiz each week, they're quite easy and you just have to have a general idea of what the author's main ideas are and pay close attention in l …Read more

Professor Dry is one of the most enthusiastic professors you can have at this school. He demands a lot from his students, but the class is super rewarding. Sometimes it can be hard to take notes because he goes in circles in his lectures. He will cold call.

Daniel Fram is definitely a knowledgeable and passionate man. His teaching style is very lecture-based, during the class he usually is the only person speaking, he has no PowerPoint or notes, the class is just him going over the assigned reading and explaining it in his own words with a touch of humor. There are lots of readings and the editions he requires for the books are not the best. Lots of them are antiquated and use language much harder than it could be, making reading from his required texts frustrating and time-consuming. I have started reading off of summaries and using that instead because there was no point of me reading the original texts, I did not understand them and spent endless hours trying to read them, and even using summaries I devote the most time to this class. I personally didn't find the class super interesting or entertaining. Besides, there are quizzes every single week and a 3-hour long exam at the end of the term. Would not ever take this class again.

Daniel Fram is definitely a knowledgeable and passionate man. His teaching style is very lecture-based, during the class he usually is the only person speaking, he has no PowerPoint or notes, the class is just him going over the assigned reading and explaining it in his own words with a touch of humor. There are lots of readings and …Read more

Really enjoying this class. Interesting material enthusiastically and effectively presented by Fram in lecture. Not a ton of writing required, but weekly quizzes mean you do have to know the material. Reading is manageably paced and, while often challenging, very interesting.

Dry is a legend at this school for a reason, and to not take one of his courses is to waste tuition, especially if you plan to major in Poli sci, religion, philosophy (duh), IP&E, classics. It's hard, but he is so so passionate and has dedicated his life to the very material in this course. He's old-fashioned, but really cares about his students. If you try your hardest you'll have learned way more than the material. But also I can now quote Plato and Aristotle and Machiavelli which is cool.

Dry is a legend at this school for a reason, and to not take one of his courses is to waste tuition, especially if you plan to major in Poli sci, religion, philosophy (duh), IP&E, classics. It's hard, but he is so so passionate and has dedicated his life to the very material in this course. He's old-fashioned, but really cares about …Read more

This course has so far been the most difficult course I have taken at Midd. Murray Dry keeps his students on their toes by randomly calling on people to answer questions about the readings. The readings themselves are a lot, as it includes works from Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, and pretty much every famous philosopher that one can think of. I respect Murray Dry for his teaching style because it motivated me to do the readings. That being said, his class is quite intense and I wouldn't recommend it unless you are majoring in poly sci.

This course has so far been the most difficult course I have taken at Midd. Murray Dry keeps his students on their toes by randomly calling on people to answer questions about the readings. The readings themselves are a lot, as it includes works from Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, and pretty much every famous philosopher that one c …Read more

Dry is pretty famous so students should know what they're getting into, but he is an excellent lecturer who is a bit of a curmudgeon. He definitely can come across as intimidating at first but he means well. The one brutal aspect of the course is the amount of reading - it is consistently ridiculous, especially because you only end up discussing the most important 10%.

Mr. Murray Dry is incredibly passionate and has a comprehensive understanding of the material but struggles to convey his knowledge in a constantly palatable manner. Also, being in a classroom with him will get your heart pumping. I do not recommend taking this course unless you are willing to put in A LOT OF TIME READING.

Overall, I had a positive experience in the class. The material can get very dense and is naturally not always the most engaging, but one thing I appreciate is that Mr. Fram lectures with lots of enthusiasm that makes it worth it. The papers were very easy, but the final exam was multiple essays about all the course material, so it was quite a lot to parse through.

Murray Dry is quite a well known teacher, with a reputation my dad could tell me about after being a student here in the 90s. I was a little shocked to buy 11 books at the start of the semester, but we read them all. In essence, the class is kind of like a glorified book club. You read the material and Dry discusses it, trying to get the class to pick up on his ideas, which doesn't always work. It can be interesting, but he consistently goes at least 8 minutes over the class time

Murray Dry is quite a well known teacher, with a reputation my dad could tell me about after being a student here in the 90s. I was a little shocked to buy 11 books at the start of the semester, but we read them all. In essence, the class is kind of like a glorified book club. You read the material and Dry discusses it, trying to get …Read more

Fram is a very enthusiastic professor who teaches you not only what the material says but also how to read and understand it best. Lots of readings, sometimes upwards of 200 pages a week, but as long as you do them you'll be set. Could also spark notes it and do decently well on quizzes; need to read for papers though.

Despite what many may say, taking this class with Dry was really interesting. As long as you ACTUALLY do the readings and def read the spark notes to understand, you will do fine. My only warning would be that he cold calls and in discussions he expects everyone to speak.

Professor Dry truly cares about his students needs and also has read the books over 60 times each. He gives very enthusiastic in class lectures and teases information out of students with cold calls. I thoroughly enjoyed the class even though I had never studied philosophy before. He forced me to think about the United State's democracy in new ways. I really appreciate how he challenges his students, yet truly cares about their success and comprehension of the material. I highly recommend taking his class. You will not regret it.

Professor Dry truly cares about his students needs and also has read the books over 60 times each. He gives very enthusiastic in class lectures and teases information out of students with cold calls. I thoroughly enjoyed the class even though I had never studied philosophy before. He forced me to think about the United State's democr …Read more

Dry is certainly a tough pill to swallow, but once you get into the rhythm of the class and get on top of the readings, then lectures and class discussions are more rewarding, and the exams are not as intimidating. I would recommend this class as an intellectual challenge, but be prepared to read and participate in class.

This course, while interesting, has also been difficult. There is a substantial amount of reading with a weekly quiz accompanying the reading. When the professor said that we needed to know everything about the chapter he mean EVERY DETAIL. Besides that, I have found the lectures engaging and while the grading to be tough to also be fair.

This class is VERY reading heavy. Throughout the whole semester you go through about 8 books and other smaller readings. You will get cold called. The discussions were very helpful in understanding the material since the literature read is confusing a lot of the time. I took as a first semester freshman and I got a B in the course.

Dry is a somewhat infamous teacher, known for his direct and occasionally challenging teaching style. Coming from a background in philosophy, I found the course and readings to be relatively easy. However, for newcomers to philosophy, Dry's approach can make the subject seem more complex and intimidating than it should be. It sometimes feels as if he wants you to complete his sentences, albeit not always in the clearest manner. He does show genuine care for his students and the books we study, but his communication style may not be the most effective. The most enjoyable aspect of the course is the reading material, which often speaks for itself. In summary, Dry isn't necessarily a bad instructor, but his teaching style may not suit everyone. If you are sensitive, uncomfortable with being cold-called, or new to philosophy, I might hesitate to recommend this course as a 101-level introduction.

Dry is a somewhat infamous teacher, known for his direct and occasionally challenging teaching style. Coming from a background in philosophy, I found the course and readings to be relatively easy. However, for newcomers to philosophy, Dry's approach can make the subject seem more complex and intimidating than it should be. It sometim …Read more

Murray Dry is probably one of the most passionate teachers I have ever met but he will not engage with you if you are not interested in the content. Overall, if you have drive and interest this class will be beneficial.

Murray Dry is a really difficult professor. If you have an extreme interest in political philosophy, by all means, take the course. However, if you just need to fill your schedule or get a distribution requirement, I'd recommend finding a different class.

Difficult readings certainly. Fram has incredible enthusiasm for the course and that made the lectures incredibly interesting. Exams were difficult and you really had to have a thorough understanding of the readings to do well on them.