Rick Roderick

Rick Roderick (1949–2002) was born in Abilene, Texas, son of (by his own description [ [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3720439413711346212&q=rick+roderick&total=25&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0 Invitation to Dialogue: The Emancipatory Challenge of Critical Theory, interview of Rick Roderick by Anne Buttimer, april 8, 1987] ] ) a "con-man" and a "beautician". He was a teacher of philosophy at several universities, where he was much revered by many students for a socratic style of teaching combined with a brash and often humorous approach. His breakthrough into wider circles came with his engagement with The Teaching Company where he recorded several memorable lecture series. Rick Roderick died in 2002 from a congestive heart condition.

Academic career

Roderick started to study communication, but moved after a few years towards studying philosophy. He received his B.A. at the University of Texas at Austin and did post-graduate work at Baylor University. He finally earned his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin.

Since 1977, Professor Roderick taught at Baylor University, the University of Texas, Duke University and National University in Los Angeles. He was the recipient of the Oldright Fellowship at the University of Texas and served as associate editor to The Pawn Review and Current Perspectives in Social Theory. Dr. Roderick was the editor of the Baylor Philosophy Journal and a member of the Phi Sigma Tau National Honor Society of Philosophy. He presented more than 25 papers, and published 13 reviews and literary criticisms, as well as numerous articles in professional journals.

Roderick was the author of the book "Habermas and the Foundation of Critical Theory" (1986), which has been translated to German as: "Habermas und das Problem der Rationalität. Eine Werkmonographie" (1989).

The Teaching Company series

* "Philosophy and Human Values", 1990
* "Nietzsche and the Post-Modern Condition", 1991
* "Self Under Siege - Philosophy in the 20th Century", 1993

External links

* [http://larshjo.tihlde.org/roderick/ What happened to Rick Roderick?: The Bill Hicks of Philosophy]
* [http://www.teach12.com/store/professor.asp?id=69&pc=SiteIndex Rick Roderick's page at The Teaching Company]

References