Their operate in phenomenological beliefs, analytic viewpoints, additionally the reputation for opinions aided motivate generations regarding philosophers inside it when it comes to those fields off look. Main certainly one of his site were his books James and you will Husserl: New Foundations out-of Meaning-a study in the contrasts from phenomenology originator Edmund Husserl and you will pragmatist/functionalist William James-and Husserl and you can Analytical Beliefs, and this traced the vacation between phenomenology and Houma sexy women you may analytic viewpoints, a couple key philosophic motions of your 20th century.
Cobb-Stevens mentioned that, while he believed Husserl’s phenomenology strategy was more productive compared to analytic types of Gottlob Frege-who situated this new analytical way-he previously typed Husserl and Analytic Opinions with the expectation away from causing “renewed conversation” between the two universities of believe: “[Husserl and you will Frege] each other common brand new belief that we is capable of some extent off objective specifics, even though our very own entry to the fact is usually perspectival and usually conditioned.”
Inside 2015, a volume of essays in honor of Dr. Cobb-Stevens, Phenomenology inside the an alternative Secret, is wrote, offering benefits off numerous leading experts in phenomenological viewpoints from Northern The united states and you may European countries.
“Cock could well be extremely remembered to own his extremely important humanness,” said Teacher out of Philosophy Patrick Byrne. “He was loving and welcoming to everyone he found, and you will let you know that the guy cared about yourself while the a keen private. Dick got a beneficial love of life and you will is a good storyteller out of a new type: He may assist themselves disappear when he received somebody to each other because of the drawing them toward story.”
He had an alternate provide to possess soothing tensions when you look at the conferences, that is no brief fulfillment into the a college setting
Dr. Cobb-Stevens’ associate Teacher Eileen Sweeney, speaking within their retirement lecture last year, acknowledged Husserl and you can Analytical Philosophy as an example regarding their feature to interact having and you will transcend such as for example departments. “It’s thereon cusp that Richard’s philosophical works provides dwelt, eschewing both reductionism and you can scientism, into the one-hand, and additionally one untimely sanctuary into mysticism or poetry, on the other side. I won’t say that Richard’s consider has come to others into the particular simple synthesis otherwise center ground it is instead engaged in a continuous vibrant dialectic.”
His achievements due to the fact a researcher and you may creator did not overshadow his performance because a teacher and you can coach, added Sweeney, detailing you to definitely for over 3 decades Dr. Cobb-Stevens ran the newest Opinions Department’s training seminar for doctoral people, along with directed 27 doctoral dissertations. College students, she said, respected his power to allow them to develop their think however, to subject it to rigorous comparison and criticism.
His lectures had “a similar combination of layout and you will understanding because does his composing,” told you Sweeney during the 2009 skills. “He is able to continually be mentioned on the toward anecdote youngsters have a tendency to contemplate for a long time you to definitely epitomizes an issue otherwise question throughout the matter he’s knowledge. He or she is usually ready to display a narrative that displays their very own difficulties and you can puzzlement in dealing with a problem or issues, the one that reveals his or her own humanity with good humility and that students notice it you can easily to imitate. ”
They are ready to function with an issue with students during the genuine collaboration, once you understand and enacting the brand new role out of philosopher since the partner in the place of possessor away from skills
Dr. Cobb-Stevens’ associates also remembered your because “a resident of University” just who obtained employment and you may projects one led to the greater amount of good out of their department-while the chairman out of 1993-2002, he moved in the world detection to BC’s scholar apps inside beliefs while increasing how many thinking student discipline so you can one of the prominent throughout the U.S.-and Boston College total: He was a member of the latest University Coverage Panel and also the College or university Instructional Planning Council, certainly one of almost every other bodies.