His operate in phenomenological opinions, analytical beliefs, therefore the reputation for beliefs helped motivate generations out-of philosophers inside in those fields away from search. Primary among their blogs were their courses James and you will Husserl: The fresh Foundations out-of Meaning-a survey inside the contrasts away from phenomenology inventor Edmund Husserl and you may pragmatist/functionalist William James-and you may Husserl and you can Analytic Values, hence traced the break anywhere between phenomenology and you can analytic opinions, two secret philosophic actions of twentieth century.
Cobb-Stevens mentioned that, as he sensed Husserl’s phenomenology method is actually more successful as compared to analytic method of Gottlob Frege-exactly who dependent the fresh new analytical movement-he’d wrote Husserl and you can Analytic Opinions with the hope regarding causing “revived discussion” between them schools out of envision: “[Husserl and you can Frege] each other shared the fresh new belief that people is capable of some extent out of objective truth, regardless if the the means to access the fact is always perspectival and you can over the years conditioned.”
Inside the 2015, an amount of essays honoring Dr. Cobb-Stevens, Phenomenology when you look at the a special Key, was blogged, presenting efforts out of multiple leading experts in phenomenological viewpoints off North America and European countries.
“Manhood might possibly be really remembered getting his crucial humanness,” said Teacher away from Thinking Patrick Byrne. “He was enjoying and you may appealing to everyone he fulfilled, and you will tell you that the guy cared in regards to you as an private. Penis got an excellent spontaneity and you can are a great storyteller away from an alternate kind: He could help themselves drop off when he received anyone together from the drawing all of them with the story.”
He had a special present to possess comforting stress in group meetings, that is zero short fulfillment from inside the an effective college form
Dr. Cobb-Stevens’ associate Professor Eileen Sweeney, talking within his old-age lecture during 2009, applauded Husserl and you can Analytical Values by way of example regarding his element to engage which have and you may transcend for example divisions. “It’s on that cusp one to Richard’s philosophical really works provides dwelt, eschewing both reductionism and you will scientism, toward one-hand, and any premature sanctuary on the mysticism otherwise CharmRomance-sovellus poetry, on the other side. I won’t claim that Richard’s believe has arrived to others for the certain easy synthesis or middle floor it is alternatively engaged in a continuing active dialectic.”
Their victory as a specialist and you may copywriter failed to overshadow his efficiency as the an instructor and you can mentor, additional Sweeney, listing that for more than thirty years Dr. Cobb-Stevens went the new Viewpoints Department’s practise meeting getting doctoral people, and had led twenty-seven doctoral dissertations. Youngsters, she said, respected his power to let them build their own think however, so you can subject they to help you strict analysis and criticism.
Their lectures got “an identical blend of concept and quality because really does their writing,” said Sweeney from the 2009 enjoy. “They can often be counted with the into the anecdote people usually remember for many years one epitomizes problematic otherwise question throughout the situation he could be knowledge. He is always prepared to show a narrative that displays his own trouble and you may puzzlement in dealing with a problem otherwise problems, one which reveals his very own humanity with a great humility and this people view it you’ll so you’re able to imitate. ”
He or she is willing to work through a problem with children from inside the legitimate collaboration, knowing and you may enacting new role away from philosopher since the spouse as opposed to possessor off insights
Dr. Cobb-Stevens’ associates including recalled him since “a citizen of University” exactly who took on tasks and you will tasks that triggered the greater amount of a beneficial out of his service-just like the president out-of 1993-2002, the guy delivered internationally identification to help you BC’s scholar applications when you look at the thinking and increase what number of values student discipline to one of many largest regarding You.S.-and Boston University as a whole: He had been a person in the School Rules Committee as well as the School Educational Believed Council, one of almost every other authorities.