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Richard Westerman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta. Originally from the UK, he joined the University of Alberta in Fall 2011 after serving as a postdoctoral teaching fellow at the University of Chicago from 2006 to 2011. His teaching primarily focuses on Social Theory, where he offers courses such as Classical Social Theory and Sociology of Art. He emphasizes a classical liberal arts approach in his teaching, inspired by Chicago's Core Curriculum, aimed at cultivating independent learners capable of critical thinking and clear communication. His research interests span social thought and the philosophy of society, exploring the nature and meaning of consciousness, as well as engaging with phenomenology and critical theory. Westerman critically examines concepts of social justice and the ethical foundations of social critique, often drawing on the works of influential theorists like Jürgen Habermas, Edmund Husserl, and members of the Frankfurt School. He is dedicated to supervising undergraduate honours theses and guiding graduate research on topics related to social justice, ethics, and phenomenological sociology.
University of Alberta • Edmonton, AB
Teaching and research in Social Theory, with an emphasis on phenomenology and critical theory.
Department: Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Management