Journal Publications by Ranilo B. Hermida
Kritike, 2019
The end of philosophy does not really mean its complete dissolution; instead, it means putting an... more The end of philosophy does not really mean its complete dissolution; instead, it means putting an end to the old ways of doing philosophy. Philosophy should not remain the same given the pluralism and diversity of modern society; it cannot hope to explain complex social issues by relying solely on its own methods and resources. Habermas declares that philosophy must be critical theory-its main task the forging of a theory of society aimed at emancipation. This paper elaborates his proposal on how philosophy can serve the goal of critical theory through his analysis of the potency and function of language as communicative action. Using his proposal as framework this paper then reflects on the study and teaching of philosophy in the Philippines and how these may be aligned with the new way of doing philosophy as critical theory.
Jürgen Habermas assigns civil society groups 'to bear a good portion of the normative expectation... more Jürgen Habermas assigns civil society groups 'to bear a good portion of the normative expectations, especially the burden of a normatively expected democratic genesis of law'. This article looks at concrete attempts in the Philippine constitution to provide structures so that these groups can carry out the role Habermas envisages for them, and examines whether such attempts are sufficient to enable said groups to intervene in the political process as effectively as he expects of them.
Whether religion has a place in the public sphere is a complex issue. Many thinkers believed that... more Whether religion has a place in the public sphere is a complex issue. Many thinkers believed that the rationalization process of modernity would result in secularization and banish religion into the private sphere. Religion has not only survived; it has even taken an active role in the political affairs of the state. This has been the case in countries like the Philippines where the publicity and activism of the Catholic hierarchy in the political public sphere of the country have been sustained and to some extent dominant. Said publicity and activism are carried out in the name of religion and the pursuit of a religious mandate accordingly. Although the reactions to such public involvement have not always been the same, these varying reactions still make sense in light of some theoretical understanding about the specifically political role of religion in the modern society. The aim of this paper is to make a modest contribution to such understanding by reflecting on the place and function of religion in the public sphere. It trains a special focus on the Philippine experience and employs mainly the view of Jürgen Habermas, an " agnostic and secular thinker " but one who has written extensively on the public sphere and recently revised his stance from thinking that religion will be overtaken by the rationalization of society to admitting that religion has something important to contribute in the public sphere.
In his paradigm of law and democracy, Jürgen Habermas endorses a model of power circulation consi... more In his paradigm of law and democracy, Jürgen Habermas endorses a model of power circulation consistent with his analysis of the modern society as a decentered society. He also advances a proposal on how democracy can be made to work given the complexity and plurality brought on by modernity. The model essentially involves a necessary interrelationship between the central axis composed of the formal branches of the government and the peripheral axis. The latter includes the customers – a network of clients dealing with the administrative branch, and the suppliers – the various groups representing public interests and needs before the legislative department. One attempt to translate democracy in the modern society into legal structures and programs is by way of government decentralization. Although intended to actualize a politics of citizen participation and thus democratize governance, the program of decentralization has not always served its purpose of democratization. This is partly the case of the decentralization program in the Philippines which is one of the most radical provisions of the Philippine constitution with enormous possibilities for people-oriented economic development at the grassroots level and the democratization of decision-making in the local government units. The irony is that its implementation has blocked the democratization process in some areas. Instead of democratizing governance by insuring active and direct participation of citizens in the governing and special bodies at the local level, the program of local autonomy fortified the control by political clans over local politics and alienated citizens from their right to participate in governance. The paper examines this development and reflects on other issues in line with the relationship between decentralization and democratization.
This paper argues that the postmodern prediction about the 'withering away' of religion in the po... more This paper argues that the postmodern prediction about the 'withering away' of religion in the postmodern setting is mistaken as religion has not faded away. The paper explains why the postmodern rejection of metanarratives does not apply to religion
This paper is a reflection on Simon Weil's concepts of decreation and 'malheur'.
Papers by Ranilo B. Hermida
The book needs proofreading, although overall the number of misspellings is insignificant. A numb... more The book needs proofreading, although overall the number of misspellings is insignificant. A number of photo reproductions need to be fixed for clarity, but the maps and documents-considering that some of them are photostats and archival materials-are to be lauded for their clear reproductions. These flaws do not detract from the book's use as an excellent source material for a history of Manila and its environs. Gaerlan mentions the publication of a second volume to this work. It is surely awaited by history scholars and enthusiasts alike.
Philippiniana Sacra
While the above theme is more commonly associated with Friedrich Nietzsche, nonetheless, the impo... more While the above theme is more commonly associated with Friedrich Nietzsche, nonetheless, the importance of Ludwig Feuerbach in this regard cannot be gainsaid. De Lubac singles him out as "the stepping-stone between the great speculation known as German idealism and the great current of revolutionary thought and actions which were to be its principal, if not its most legitimate, heir." [DAH, 8]
Philosophy, Culture, and Traditions
Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture, 1999
L'objectif du present article est de retrouver les tendances essentielles de la philosophie d... more L'objectif du present article est de retrouver les tendances essentielles de la philosophie de Thomas d'Aquin et de Martin Heidegger, et particulierement leur maitrise de la metaphysique. Tous deux sont d'authentiques philosophes a cause de leur constante preoccupation de la question de l'etre; Thomas d'Aquin avec sa conception de 'esse' et le 'Ipsum Esse Subsistens', la realite absolue et la causalite primordiale universelle de 'actus essendi'; et Martin Heidegger, avec sa penetration dans le 'Sein', la tâche de l'etre humain etant de repondre par la reflexion a ce qui lui est dit.
Dans Le phenomene humain, Teilhard de Chardin esquisse une theorie de l'homme dans son rappor... more Dans Le phenomene humain, Teilhard de Chardin esquisse une theorie de l'homme dans son rapport avec le monde et avec Dieu. L'evolution, selon lui, n'a pas seulement emancipe la pensee de la matiere, ou la personne des simples mecanismes cellulaires ; elle nous a libere d'un present restreint pour nous donner acces au futur, grâce a l'espoir.
Thesis Eleven, 2013
Jürgen Habermas assigns civil society groups ‘to bear a good portion of the normative expectation... more Jürgen Habermas assigns civil society groups ‘to bear a good portion of the normative expectations, especially the burden of a normatively expected democratic genesis of law’. This article looks at concrete attempts in the Philippine constitution to provide structures so that these groups can carry out the role Habermas envisages for them, and examines whether such attempts are sufficient to enable said groups to intervene in the political process as effectively as he expects of them.
Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, 2006
There is a reality outside of the world, that is to say, outside space and time, outside man's me... more There is a reality outside of the world, that is to say, outside space and time, outside man's mental universe, outside any sphere of whatsoever that is accessible to human faculties.
Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, 2008
... David E. Linge [Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997], 9). 39. Smith, "A Littl... more ... David E. Linge [Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997], 9). 39. Smith, "A Little Story ofMetanarratives," 355. 40. ... We have not only become aware of a plurality of conflicting legitimating stories but have moved into the age of the demise of the metanarrative. ...
Kritike: An Online Journal of Philosophy, 2019
The end of philosophy does not really mean its complete dissolution; instead, it means putting an... more The end of philosophy does not really mean its complete dissolution; instead, it means putting an end to the old ways of doing philosophy. Philosophy should not remain the same given the pluralism and diversity of modern society; it cannot hope to explain complex social issues by relying solely on its own methods and resources. Habermas declares that philosophy must be critical theoryits main task the forging of a theory of society aimed at emancipation. This paper elaborates his proposal on how philosophy can serve the goal of critical theory through his analysis of the potency and function of language as communicative action. Using his proposal as framework this paper then reflects on the study and teaching of philosophy in the Philippines and how these may be aligned with the new way of doing philosophy as critical theory.
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Journal Publications by Ranilo B. Hermida
Papers by Ranilo B. Hermida