Douglas Allen - University of Maine

Professor: Douglas Allen
Department: Philosophy
College: University of Maine
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: PHI346
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Clearly world expert in his field, especially in Gandhi philosophy. But can be quite monotone and dry during discussion. Must come to class with critical questions and points. Particular in what is given in midterm. Very very pro-Gandhi. Hard to ever get a negative or critical view of Gandhi. But as an expert, can obviously back up and justify.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: PHI102
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
The book is inexpensive and selected readings are pretty brief for philosophy texts. Read the book in order to prepare for exams, especially the intro! Also, take good notes and remember how he breaks down each argument. If you're actually interested in philosophy this is a great course to take, but don't expect to do well if you don't put in work!
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: PHI105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Clearly a expert in his field, but unhelpful otherwise. Really likes to voice his opinions and says he respects yours, but there are less obvious ways he takes digs at those he disagrees with.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: PHI105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
The teacher did not make the class interesting, he was very monotone about everything. On tests, he didn't give study guides, and would say only certain things would be on the test, then add random things in.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: PHI286
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Read the book. You will be absolutely blindsided on the midterm if you haven't done the reading, even if you've taken good notes and understand the topics covered in class. He's a funny guy, and incredibly knowledgeable.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: PHI364
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Allen is the best philosophy professor I have had so far. Keeps it interesting and is a funny guy. plus his beard is good
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: PHI105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Has no grading rules...kind of just judges your understanding and comes up with some off-the-wall grade. Lecture will make you want to pull out every last one of your arm hairs for something to entertain you. Nice guy and willing to help but lectures are SO incredibly dry! He likes to protest and get arrested, too. Recommend him, not this course.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: PHI342
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He's a nice guy. He doesn't force his politics on anyone. I'm taking his Marxism class and he teaches it objectively and is always open to other viewpoints. If you're a staunch conservative you have no business in a philosophy class anyway. The problem is that his test questions are unbelievably vague, but he's looking for very specific analysis.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: PHI105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He is so incredibly boring to listen to for an hour and a half. Talks about nothing mostly. It sucks because the subject itself I find very interesting, his classes are just so incredibly boring.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: PHI286
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
This is one of the best professors I've ever had the pleasure of having. He's easy going and highly interested in the subject matter. Although his passionate about teaching he gives a relaxed atmosphere that allows open thinking for his students.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: PHI342
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He's a superb person; intelligent too. He certainly is knowledgeable towards the subject. Although, he is extremely unclear about what he wants, and going to class isn't as beneficial as he believes. His lectures aren't too helpful with his assessments. His test questions are unclear too.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: PHI286
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Allen's not preaching any political view more than the next guy (i.e. a scientist teaching 'hard objective science' is in fact teaching a very specific world view: that of science (a euro-centric view). Allen simply teaches other world views and with a great attitude. We could all use a bit more of these other views.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: PHI105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Coolest professor on campus.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: PHI105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
not a fan. He's a nice guy and I guess a decent teacher, but only to those who agree with him. He likes to hear his own voice and never ever asks for input from the class. Be prepared to hear his voice a lot!
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: PHI105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Dr. Allen really made me love philosophy. He is an extremely intelligent man, who knows what he's talking about. He made me understand even the hardest of readings. This class was extremely helpful.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: PHI342
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Real nice funny man. Stands by his convictions. Despite a lot of emotional hijacking, emotional blackmale, and difficult people he's demonstrated his a passion for his teaching and a love for his country. There are a lot of extreme right wingers who bash him a lot but I like that he is not scared to speak his mind despite ignorate pot shots at him
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: PHI342
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Allen is NOT a "liberal." He is an unabashed communist/nihlist. His diatribes and belief structure would be laughable if he wasn't the dept chair and exercised so much power of the curriculum. In some sense, he is the soul of entire UMaine faculty. He is worth taking only to see and better understand the #1 enemy of free thought on our campus.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
All profs, to some extent, impose their views: they select the books and you get what they think you should know. The problem with Prof Allen is EVERYTHING he teaches is old hat, left-wing work that is out dated. There is no diversity in the thinkers he teaches. Even palmer in poli-sci, who is considered a conservative, teaches liberals.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: HINDUISM
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He doesn't force his political views on his students--although I've actually had some "liberal nut" professors who did this from other departments. Teaching Gandhi's pacifism does not equal forcing political views. Good professor. But clearly an easy target for the right, due to his anti-war activism.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: ALL
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He is a liberal nut and the reason this matters is because he will not allow for opposite views, and has not hired a single conservative professor. This is a major problem because UMaine takes tax payer money yet his "open minded" dept does not reflect a wide range view point on important issues.
Add Your Review Below:
Search Professors:
Welcome:

Before signing up for classes every students should gather as much information as possible to make a decision on which professors as well as which courses to take. This website will help you make this decision easier.

Here, the students can rate, research and cross-reference the overall performances of the professors to select the best ones, and always be informed and up-to-date with what’s important.

Join the fun! Visit all pages and get all the information you need to choose the best class and best professor that you’ll enjoy listening to and learning from.

Our Friendly Sponsor:
Schools:
Our Friendly Sponsor:


Celebrity Net Worth Visa Bulletin