Campus
- Downtown Toronto (St. George)
Fields of Study
- Jewish Studies
- Philosophy of Religion
Areas of Interest
- Jewish thought
- Phenomenological tradition
- German idealism
- Higher education
- Philosophy of law
- French postmodern literary theory
- Social theory
- Existentialism
- Pragmatism
- Ethics
- Contemporary continental philosophy
Biography
Robert Gibbs' current research focuses on higher education, and he has recently completed a book-length manuscript, What Could a University Be? Revolutionary Ideas for the Future (UBC Press, 2025). In it, he inquires about what a research university is for and explores different models of universities by refocusing on the research capacities of students.
His previous research is located on the borderlines of philosophy and religion, with a comparative and historical focus on law and ethics. He has worked on ethics in relation to the modern Jewish philosophical tradition and has numerous publications in this and in related fields in continental philosophy.
Professor Gibbs integrates teaching with practice: focusing on diverse ways to study. In many courses this will include learning how to do research and with the student presenting their own questions and results. In most courses this will include practices of writing commentary and social learning. The goal is learning how to read with others and think in close dialogue with other students and the texts.