Ranilo B. Hermida
My name is Ranilo B. Hermida. I am an international postgraduate student from the Philippines. My academic qualifications include a civil degree, Master of Arts in Philosophy, from the Ateneo de Manila University, and an ecclesiastical degree, Licentiate in Philosophy, from the University of Santo Tomas. I am listed in the 2007 edition of The Philosopher’s Index.
My research project at Monash University consists of two parts. The first part develops the theory of law and democracy that Jürgen Habermas elaborates in Between Facts and Norms. The second part presents a critical discussion of Philippine constitutional structures and processes.
There have been many studies of Habermasian theory of law and democracy, as there have been countless studies on the Philippine constitutional and democratic experience. There has not been a work, however, that employs the theory of Habermas as a framework to analyze an actually existing democracy ― using it both as an exemplar and criterion for critique and evaluation of the democratic potential and practice in a particular country. There has never been a study, moreover, of the Philippine constitutional and political institutions and processes from the viewpoint of Habermas, which is to say, in terms of their commitment to and actualization of democratic ideals and principles. My project stakes a modest claim as a pioneering effort in this regard.
My intent in interfacing Habermasian theory with the Philippine style of democracy is twofold: one, for the former to help sharpen appreciation of the dynamics of Philippine democratic politics, provide clues to the unleashing of its possibilities, correct its shortcomings, and highlight the strengths on which the country can build and develop further; and, two, for the latter to provide perhaps a validation for some of the assertions of Habermas, refinement for his controversial or tentative viewpoints, and hopefully some reinforcement of his passionate advocacy of democracy.
The proposed title of my research is “Jürgen Habermas on the Paradoxes and Prospects of Deliberative Democracy and Discursive Politics – A Theoretical Framework for the Critical Analysis of the Philippine Constitutional and Political Institutions and Processes.”
Publications
Hermida, R. B. (2008) “The Resurgence of Religion in the Advent of Postmodernity,” Logos, A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, vol. 11:4 (University of Saint Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota), Fall.
Hermida, R. B. (2006) “Simone Weil: A Sense of God,” Logos, A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, vol. 9:1 (University of Saint Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota), Winter.
Hermida, R. B. (2006) “Jürgen Habermas and Postmetaphysical Rationality,” Philippiniana Sacra, vol. XLI, no. 123 (University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R. B. (2005) “The Paradoxes and Prospects of Freedom in the Political Philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau,” The Pelican, Vol. I (San Agustin Center of Studies, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R. B. (2004) “The Fate of Faith in the Postmodern Postmortem,” Φιλοσοφια, vol. XXXIII, no. 1 (De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R. B. (2003) “The Death of Man Vis-à-vis the Death of God: Henri de Lubac on the Atheistic Humanism of Ludwig Feuerbach,” Philippiniana Sacra, vol. XXXVIII, no. 113 (University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R. B. (2003) “Contemporary Musings on a Medieval Controversy: William of Ockham on the Limits of Sovereignty and the Restraints of Rulership,” Philippiniana Sacra, vol. XXXVIII, no. 114 (University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R. B. (2002) “Gianni Vattimo and John Reader – The ‘Return to Religion’ in a Postmodern Setting: A Major Narrative in Lieu of a Meta Narrative,” Philosophy, Culture, and Traditions, vol. I (Saint Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Canada).
Hermida, R. B. (2002) “Ascent to God in the Metaphysics of Nature of Simone Weil,” Prajñã Vihãra, vol. III, no. 1 (Assumption University, Bangkok, Thailand).
Hermida, R. B. (2002) “Towards a Phenomenology of Hope in ‘The Phenomenon of Man’ of Teilhard de Chardin,” Philippiniana Sacra, vol. XXXVII, no. 109 (University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R. B. (2002) “Philosophy as Aesthetics of Existence in the Advaita of Sankara,” Unitas, vol. LXXV, no. 2 (University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R. B. (2001) “Michel Foucault on the Care of the Self as a New Strategic Possibility for an Ethics,” Unitas, vol. LXXIV, no. 1 (University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R. B. (2001) “Reading Nature as Sadhana in Simone Weil,” The Loyola Schools Review, vol. 1 (Ateneo de Manila University, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R.B. and R.B. Azada (2001) “‘People Power’ Revolution: Perspectives from Hannah Arendt and Jürgen Habermas,” Budhi, vol. V, no. 1 (Ateneo de Manila University, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R. B. (2000) “Objectivity and Relativism – Illusion and Naiveté: The Hermeneutic Dimension of the Natural Sciences,” Φιλοσοφια, vol. XXIX, no. 2 , (De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R. B. (1999) “From Hermeneutics to Pragmatics: Philosophy as Emancipation in Habermasian Critical Social Theory,” Σοφια, vol. XXVIII, no. 1 (De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R. B. (1999) “Content and Method in Teaching Ethics,” Pantas, vol. X, no. 1 (Ateneo de Manila University, Manila, Philippines), 1999
Hermida, R. B. (1999) “Notes on the ‘Woman Question’ in the Fifth Book of Plato’s Republic,” Budhi, vol. III, nos. 2 & 3 (Ateneo de Manila University, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R. B. (1998) “Towards a Celebration of Being Human: A Retrieval of the Metaphysics of Thomas Aquinas and Martin Heidegger,” Philippiniana Sacra, vol. XXXIII, no. 99 (University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines).
Hermida, R. B. (1994) “The Doctrine of Moksa in the Advaita of Sankara,” Bikolnon, vol. 1, no. 1 (Ateneo de Naga University, Naga City, Philippines).
Conferences
“Beyond the Silence of Aquinas: Overcoming the Closure of Metaphysics,” World Union of Catholic Philosophical Societies, Assumption Convent Center, Viale Romania, Rome, Italy, September 5-8, 2000.
“Designing and Teaching the Logic Course,” Seminar-Workshop on Syllabi Preparation, Association of Philippine Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Development Complex, Ateneo de Manila University, February 17, 2001.
“Ascent to God in the Metaphysics of Nature of Simone Weil,” First Asian Regional Conference of the International Institute for Metaphysical and Mystical Studies, Assumption University, Bang Na Campus, Bangkok, Thailand, April 18-20, 2002.
“Habermasian Reflections on the Edsa People Power Revolution,” Philosophical Symposium, Saint Camillus College Seminary, Marikina City, July 23, 2003.
“The Hermeneutic Dimension of Science,” Annual National Conference, Philosophical Association of the Philippines, Las Brisas Resort, Antipolo City, April 7-9, 2005.
“Teaching Logic and Teaching Ethics,” Western Mindanao Regional Conference, Western Mindanao State University, Zamboanga City, January 19-21, 2006.
“Jürgen Habermas and Postmetaphysical Rationality” / “The Practice of Philosophy as a Reflective Practice,” Actus Academicus, Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, Naga City, 18 February 2006.
“Drawing a Phenomenology of Hope from the Phenomenon of Man,” International Conference on Teilhard de Chardin of the Geochris Institute for Ecozoic Spirituality, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights Campus, Quezon City, Philippines, 31 August - 2 September 2006.
“The Philippine ‘People Power’ Revolutions from the Perspective of Jürgen Habermas,” Communication and Media Studies Seminar-Series, School of English, Communications and Performance Studies, Monash University, Clayton Campus, 15 October 2007.
Awards & Grants
Rector’s Award for Academic Excellence, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Santo Tomas, 1979-1980
Pope Leo XIII Award for Social Involvement, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Santo Tomas, 1979-1980
Monbusho Fellowship, Japanese Language and Culture, 1991-1992, Osaka Gaikokugo Daigaku (Osaka University of Foreign Studies), Osaka, Japan
Research on Advaita Vedanta, 1993, Jōchi Daigaku (Sophia University), Tokyo, Japan
Professorial Chair Award, Ateneo de Naga University, Naga City, 1994-1995 / 1995-1996 / 1996-1997
School of Humanities Teaching Grant, Ellen Francisco Fajardo Foundation, 2000-2001
Scholarly Work Publication Award, Loyola Schools, Ateneo de Manila University, 2001-2002 / 2002-2003 / 2004-2005
Faculty Development Grant, Boston College, Boston, Massachusetts, Spring 2004