Inside the an excellent 1990 interviews towards the Boston School Biweekly, Dr

His operate in phenomenological opinions, analytic philosophy, therefore the reputation of viewpoints aided promote years out-of philosophers involved in those sphere out-of look. Main one of their site was in fact his courses James and you may Husserl: The new Foundations regarding Meaning-a study during the contrasts regarding phenomenology founder Edmund Husserl and pragmatist/functionalist William James-and you will Husserl and you will Analytical Thinking, and therefore traced the break ranging from phenomenology and you can analytical viewpoints, a couple key philosophic actions of your own 20th century.

Cobb-Stevens mentioned that, while he experienced Husserl’s phenomenology method is actually more lucrative compared to analytic type Gottlob Frege-just who dependent brand new analytical movement-he previously blogged Husserl and you will Analytic Viewpoints with the hope regarding contributing to “restored conversation” between the two universities regarding thought: “[Husserl and Frege] one another shared the latest conviction that we can achieve some degree of mission realities, in the event our very own use of truth is always perspectival and typically conditioned.”

Within the 2015, an amount of essays in honor of Dr. Cobb-Stevens, Phenomenology in a different sort of Key, are had written, presenting benefits from several best specialists in phenomenological thinking out of North The united states and you may European countries.

“Cock might be very remembered for his very important humanness,” told you Professor out of Opinions Patrick Byrne. “He was loving and you will inviting to any or all the guy found, and you will tell you that he cared in regards to you while the an personal. Dick had a good spontaneity and you can is a storyteller from a separate type: He might help themselves decrease when he received people to each other by drawing them with the story.”

He had an alternate gift to have soothing tensions in group meetings, that is no small fulfillment within the a good school function

Dr. Cobb-Stevens’ associate Professor Eileen Sweeney, talking from the their senior years lecture in 2009, acknowledged Husserl and you may Analytical Philosophy for-instance of his element to engage having and you can transcend such as divisions. “It is on that cusp you to definitely Richard’s philosophical works has dwelt, eschewing both the reductionism and you may scientism, towards the one-hand, together with one early haven toward mysticism otherwise poetry, on the other side. I wouldn’t declare that Richard’s envision has arrived in order to people within the specific effortless synthesis or middle surface it is as an alternative engaged in a continuous dynamic dialectic.”

Their triumph as the a specialist and you can creator failed to overshadow his abilities once the an instructor and you may coach, additional Sweeney, detailing that for more than thirty years Dr. Cobb-Stevens went the newest Viewpoints Department’s practise seminar to have doctoral pupils, together with directed 27 doctoral dissertations. College students, she told you, respected their capacity to let them make their envision but so you’re able to subject it to tight testing and you can feedback.

Their lectures got “the same blend of design and you can quality given that does their writing,” said Sweeney from the 2009 event. “They can always be counted with the to your anecdote youngsters commonly think of for a long time one to epitomizes an issue or material on matter he could be practise. He is constantly prepared to display a narrative that shows his very own difficulties and you will puzzlement in dealing with difficulty or challenge, the one that exposes his own humanity that have an excellent humility which college students see it you can so you can emulate. ”

He is prepared to work through an issue with children in genuine venture, knowing and enacting the role off philosopher because the mate unlike possessor out-of wisdom

Dr. Cobb-Stevens’ acquaintances and recalled your because “a resident of the College or university” who took on work and tasks one to lead to the greater number of a beneficial regarding his agencies-as president off 1993-2002, the guy moved in the world recognition so you’re able to BC’s scholar software in viewpoints and increase just how many thinking undergraduate majors to help you among the largest about U.S.-and you may Boston College or university general: He was a member of the fresh College or university Coverage Committee in addition to College or university Educational Believe Council, certainly one of other government.