Their operate in phenomenological thinking, analytical values, additionally the reputation of beliefs aided encourage generations away from philosophers in it in those sphere regarding research. Primary one of his weblog was basically their courses James and you may Husserl: The Fundamentals out-of Definition-a survey when you look at the contrasts away from phenomenology founder Edmund Husserl and you will pragmatist/functionalist William James-and you will Husserl and you may Analytic Philosophy, and that tracked the break between phenomenology and you can analytic philosophy, two key philosophic motions of the 20th century.

Cobb-Stevens mentioned that what to know about Fuzhou women, as he sensed Husserl’s phenomenology approach is more productive than the analytic types of Gottlob Frege-whom mainly based new analytical movement-he had authored Husserl and Analytic Viewpoints with the expectation out of contributing to “renewed discussion” among them colleges off envision: “[Husserl and you will Frege] each other shared the conviction that individuals can achieve a point out-of objective information, even in the event all of our access to truth is constantly perspectival and you can historically conditioned.”

In the 2015, a level of essays in honor of Dr. Cobb-Stevens, Phenomenology during the a unique Key, was authored, presenting benefits out of numerous top experts in phenomenological thinking away from Northern The united states and Europe.

“Dick could be really remembered to own his crucial humanness,” told you Professor out-of Thinking Patrick Byrne. “He was warm and you may inviting to everyone the guy found, and you can let you know that he cared in regards to you due to the fact an private. Dick had an excellent sense of humor and you may are a great storyteller out of a special type: He may help himself drop-off when he received some body to each other by drawing all of them towards facts.”

He’d an alternative gift to possess comforting tensions when you look at the group meetings, that’s zero brief accomplishment within the a beneficial university function

Dr. Cobb-Stevens‘ colleague Professor Eileen Sweeney, speaking at their old age lecture during 2009, applauded Husserl and Analytic Viewpoints by way of example away from their function to activate that have and you may transcend instance divisions. “It’s on that cusp one Richard’s philosophical really works keeps dwelt, eschewing both the reductionism and you will scientism, towards one-hand, also one early sanctuary into mysticism or poetry, on the other. We won’t claim that Richard’s consider has come to help you people into the particular simple synthesis otherwise middle soil but is as an alternative involved with an ongoing dynamic dialectic.”

His profits as a researcher and journalist failed to overshadow his efficiency once the an instructor and you can mentor, extra Sweeney, detailing you to for more than 30 years Dr. Cobb-Stevens went the brand new Thinking Department’s practise discussion getting doctoral people, together with brought 27 doctoral dissertations. Students, she told you, cherished his capability to permit them to build their own imagine but so you’re able to topic they so you can strict testing and criticism.

Their lectures got “the same mixture of layout and you may understanding because the really does his writing,” said Sweeney during the 2009 enjoy. “He can be counted towards the to the anecdote college students commonly think of for many years you to epitomizes a challenge or issue regarding the issue he’s knowledge. He’s constantly prepared to display a story that shows their own issues and you may puzzlement in working with difficulty otherwise problems, the one that exposes his or her own humanity which have an effective humility which people find it you’ll be able to to imitate. ”

He could be happy to sort out a problem with pupils into the legitimate cooperation, once you understand and enacting brand new part of philosopher due to the fact companion instead of possessor regarding skills

Dr. Cobb-Stevens‘ colleagues and appreciated your just like the “a resident of College or university” exactly who took on work and you may assignments you to led to more a great out-of his institution-while the chairman from 1993-2002, he produced around the globe recognition in order to BC’s scholar software inside the viewpoints while increasing how many beliefs student majors so you’re able to among prominent regarding the U.S.-and Boston School overall: He was a person in new College or university Coverage Committee therefore the College Instructional Considered Council, certainly almost every other government.