Historical instructor

PAULA GOTTLIEB

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.70/5 from 27 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

PHIL241 · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 1/5
She's a good professor. Tries to get the class engaged with the material. Good intro philosophy class
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PHIL430 · course not matched
Quality 3/5Difficulty 3/5
Paula was a fantastic professor and I enjoyed her class. But she grades with swing grades, so if you're not in the boundaries of a grade, you will be rounded down. For an A, the grading scale is a 94-95 out of 95, or a 98% or above. While I enjoyed the class, this ensured that while I got above a 95% on all papers, I received a B in the class.
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PHILOS 430
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
Take this class if you're a Philos major, don't if you're not. It is not as real-world applicable as modern philos, which should be obvious. Paula is funny, but granted a little boring, yet very passionate. Her swing grade system is reasonable, but you need to do well for an A. Her tutorial system is very fun: papers with a discussion about it.
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PHILO430 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
This class was only made more enjoyable by somebody as knowledgeable and passionate about ancient greek philosophy as Paula. While lectures may seem to run slow, she nonetheless follows a clear and orderly mode of instruction with the occasional deadpan humor in the mix. Really immerse yourself in the readings, and you will do great come tutorials.
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PHILOS 430
Quality 2/5Difficulty 3/5
She wasn't my favorite professor in the department. Her lectures are pretty boring, and her voice honestly put me to sleep most days. I don't like her "swing" grade strategy or revising the grading scale. I just wish she counted attendance and we were graded normally on the papers. The ancients are pretty underwhelming, too.
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PHIL430 · course not matched
Quality 1/5Difficulty 1/5
Lectures are impressively boring and the only reason to show up is for the participation grade. I signed in online for lectures but was never present at my computer thereduring. If you enjoy philosophy that has practical implications on your life and can improve it in some manner, avoid this class.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with PAULA GOTTLIEB

HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY covers philosophers from the presocratics to the Stoics and Epicureans, with particular emphasis on Plato and Aristotle.

No offering record · Fall 2025

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2021–Fall 2025

PHILOS 454 offers intensive study of selected classical philosophers, movements, or problems.

No offering record · Fall 2025

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Fall 2025

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Fall 2025PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Fall 2025PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Spring 2025PHILOS 241Introductory Ethics
Spring 2025PHILOS 701Reading Seminar
Spring 2025PHILOS 799Directed Study
Spring 2025PHILOS 830Advanced History of Philosophy
Fall 2024PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Fall 2024PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Spring 2024PHILOS 241Introductory Ethics
Spring 2024PHILOS 549Great Moral Philosophers
Spring 2024PHILOS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2023PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Fall 2023PHILOS 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2023PHILOS 701Reading Seminar
Fall 2023PHILOS 835Advanced History of Philosophy
Fall 2022PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Fall 2022PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Spring 2022PHILOS 241Introductory Ethics
Spring 2022PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Fall 2021PHILOS 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2020PHILOS 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2020PHILOS 241Introductory Ethics
Spring 2020PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Spring 2020PHILOS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2019PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Fall 2019PHILOS 549Great Moral Philosophers
Fall 2019PHILOS 681Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2018PHILOS 241Introductory Ethics
Spring 2018PHILOS 599Directed Study
Spring 2018PHILOS 701Reading Seminar
Spring 2018PHILOS 830Advanced History of Philosophy
Spring 2018PHILOS 999Independent Work
Fall 2017PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Fall 2017PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Spring 2017PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Spring 2017PHILOS 549Great Moral Philosophers
Spring 2017PHILOS 799Directed Study
Fall 2016PHILOS 241Introductory Ethics
Fall 2016PHILOS 830Advanced History of Philosophy
Spring 2016PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Spring 2016PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Fall 2015PHILOS 241Introductory Ethics
Fall 2015PHILOS 549Great Moral Philosophers
Fall 2015PHILOS 599Directed Study
Spring 2015PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Spring 2015PHILOS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2015PHILOS 830Advanced History of Philosophy
Fall 2014PHILOS 241Introductory Ethics
Spring 2014PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Spring 2014PHILOS 549Great Moral Philosophers
Spring 2014PHILOS 999Independent Work
Fall 2013PHILOS 241Introductory Ethics
Fall 2013PHILOS 830Advanced History of Philosophy
Spring 2013PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Spring 2013PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Spring 2013PHILOS 699Directed Study
Fall 2012PHILOS 241Introductory Ethics
Fall 2012PHILOS 549Great Moral Philosophers
Spring 2012PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Spring 2012PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Fall 2011PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Fall 2011PHILOS 830Advanced History of Philosophy
Spring 2010PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Spring 2010PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Fall 2009PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Fall 2009PHILOS 830Advanced History of Philosophy
Spring 2009GREEK 541Greek Philosophical Writers
Spring 2009PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Spring 2009PHILOS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2008PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Fall 2008PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Fall 2008PHILOS 681Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2008PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Spring 2008PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Fall 2007PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Fall 2007PHILOS 830Advanced History of Philosophy
Spring 2007PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Fall 2006PHILOS 430History of Ancient Philosophy
Fall 2006PHILOS 830Advanced History of Philosophy
Fall 2006PHILOS 990Research and Thesis

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance
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