Richard Westerman

Richard Westerman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Arts. He holds a PhD and MA from the University of Cambridge's Faculty of History. His research focuses on social thought, the philosophy of society, and critical theory, with particular emphasis on phenomenology, ethics, and the Frankfurt School. He teaches classical and contemporary social theory, sociology of art, and introductory sociology courses using a liberal arts approach emphasizing critical engagement with primary texts.

Westerman's research examines the nature of meaning in consciousness through Husserl and Schütz's phenomenology, and challenges deontological assumptions in critical social theory, engaging with Habermas and Lukács. He also explores ethics in social critique, advocating for a meaning-oriented approach to normative demands.

He teaches Soc 212 (Classical Social Theory), Soc 335 (Themes in Contemporary Theory), Soc 461/Soc 503 (Sociology of Art), and Soc 100 (Introductory Sociology). His pedagogical methods prioritize close reading, logical argumentation, and small-group discussion. He supervises graduate students with theoretical/philosophical questions and serves on committees for projects involving social justice, phenomenological sociology, or art theory.

Westerman has published extensively on Lukács' theories, critical theory, and the sociology of art. His work appears in journals like Modern Intellectual History and the British Journal of Aesthetics. He is actively involved in the Faculty of Arts' teaching initiatives and maintains an interdisciplinary research profile connecting philosophy, art, and social theory.