Their work with phenomenological thinking, analytic opinions, and reputation of beliefs aided inspire generations of philosophers involved when it comes to those sphere away from browse. Foremost one of their site had been his books James and you can Husserl: New Fundamentals out-of Definition-a survey for the contrasts away from phenomenology inventor Edmund Husserl and you can pragmatist/functionalist William James-and you will Husserl and you may Analytic Beliefs, and that tracked the break ranging from phenomenology and you can analytic philosophy, one or two key philosophic actions of your own twentieth century.
Cobb-Stevens asserted that, while he experienced Husserl’s phenomenology strategy are more productive as compared to analytical types of Gottlob Frege-exactly who oriented the analytical path-he previously typed Husserl and Analytical Philosophy with the expectation regarding leading to “renewed discussion” between the two schools out of imagine: “[Husserl and you may Frege] one another common the conviction we can perform a point from mission information, even in the event our very own entry to the fact is always perspectival and you can historically conditioned.”
For the 2015, a level of essays honoring Dr. Cobb-Stevens, Phenomenology in the a special Key, are wrote, offering efforts out-of multiple top specialists in phenomenological thinking from Northern The united states and Europe.
“Dick could be very recalled having his essential humanness,” told you Professor away from Opinions Patrick Byrne. “He was warm and you can inviting to any or all the guy fulfilled, and let you know that the guy cared about yourself while the an enthusiastic personal. Penis had a beneficial spontaneity and you will is actually an effective storyteller from a unique type: He could assist himself decrease as he drew anybody together because of the attracting all of them to your tale.”
He had a different sort of gift getting comforting tensions into the group meetings, that is zero quick fulfillment when you look at the a beneficial school means
Dr. Cobb-Stevens’ colleague Professor Eileen Sweeney, talking at the his retirement lecture last year, applauded Husserl and you can Analytical Beliefs for instance out-of his element to interact with and you will transcend such as for example divisions. “It is on that cusp you to definitely Richard’s philosophical performs keeps dwelt, eschewing both the reductionism and you may scientism, on one-hand, in addition to any untimely retreat towards the mysticism or poetry, on the other side. I wouldn’t declare that Richard’s consider has come to rest inside the particular effortless synthesis otherwise middle ground but is instead involved with an ongoing vibrant dialectic.”
Their profits just like the a researcher and you can author don’t overshadow his overall performance given that an instructor and coach, added Sweeney, listing that for over three decades Dr. Cobb-Stevens went the brand new Philosophy Department’s knowledge seminar getting doctoral pupils, and had brought 27 doctoral dissertations. Children, she told you, valued their ability to allow them to establish their thought but so you can topic they so you’re able to tight analysis and you will complaints.
Their lectures got “an identical mix of concept and quality as the does his composing,” said Sweeney at 2009 experience. “They can be mentioned to the towards anecdote youngsters have a tendency to think about for years to come that epitomizes a problem or topic on issue they are knowledge. He could be usually happy to display a wife dutch story that presents their own difficulties and you can puzzlement in dealing with problematic otherwise dilemma, the one that exposes his own humanity which have a good humility hence people find it possible to help you imitate. ”
He’s willing to sort out an issue with students in legitimate cooperation, once you understand and you will enacting this new character from philosopher because partner unlike possessor out of wisdom
Dr. Cobb-Stevens’ colleagues as well as appreciated him as the “a citizen of your College or university” who obtained opportunities and assignments you to resulted in the more an effective of his institution-while the chairman off 1993-2002, he lead internationally recognition in order to BC’s graduate software when you look at the thinking and increase exactly how many philosophy undergraduate majors to one of the largest on You.S.-and you will Boston School as a whole: He was a member of this new College or university Policy Panel therefore the College or university Informative Considered Council, certainly other authorities.
