Of philosophy and falafels

Philosophy prof Duncan MacIntosh was named best professor in The Coast's Best of Halifax readers' poll. (Danny Abriel Photo)

What does it mean to be named the best professor in the The Coast’s 2007 Best of Halifax Readers’ Poll?

Hmm … that’s a question worthy of a philosopher.

“I’m naturally skeptical of its meaning,” says Duncan MacIntosh, associate professor in the Department of Philosophy who was also named best professor in 2005. “It’s nice and so on, but it’s the same way they vote for falafels.”

Besides, he figures he’s got an advantage over other professors because he’s got more students to potentially cast votes for him as the teacher of a big, first-year class, Introduction to Philosophy. Not only that, the subject matter is engaging. Students get to probe the big questions in his class, including: Is there a God? How is knowledge possible? Do we have free will? What is it to be moral?

“If you don’t screw it up, I would be surprised if people weren’t motivated by it,” says Dr. MacIntosh, who’s taught at Dalhousie for 20 years. Besides the first-year class, he also teaches the History of Philosophy: 20th Century Philosophy (PHIL 3640) and Theory of Rational Decision (PHIL 4120).

He’s also rated highly on the student-generated rating site, ratemyprofessors.com; students call him “awesome,” “amazing” and “very funny.”

“He rocks. Definitely take this class with him — he will make you love philosophy! Very caring!” writes one student.

Dr. MacIntosh says he tries to get students to interrogate ideas and think for themselves. At the end of each class, he leaves time for discussion, encouraging each student to offer a question or a comment.

“It’s a way of getting all students involved, and not just those who are quick and fearless,” he says.

Other Dal winners in The Coast’s Best of Halifax issue include: the Killam Library, best place to study; Dalhousie Personal Computer Purchase Centre, runner-up for best computer store; recent science grad Josh Webb, best photographer; acting instructor Sue Leblanc-Crawford, best theatre actor; and PhD student Susanna Fuller, who is studying marine biology at Dal, best activist.