Ranjoo Herr

  • Professor, Philosophy
  • Ph.D. State University of New York at Buffalo
  • B.L., B.A. Seoul National University
  • Office: Morison Hall - 225 | 781.891.2627 | RHERR@BENTLEY.EDU
  • Department Phone: 781.891.2240 | Department Fax: 781.891.2324

Teaching Interests

Global Justice/Globalization, Philosophy of Race, Political Philosophy, Social Philosophy, Feminist Theory, East Asian Philosophy, Environment/ Consumption, Normative Ethics, Applied Ethics, Introduction to Philosophy

Research Interests

Political Philosophy (Collective Self-Determination, Human Rights, Global Justice, Nationalism), Feminist Philosophy (Gender Justice), Social Philosophy (Race, Multiculturalism), Third World/Transnational Feminism, Comparative Philosophy (East Asia/West)

Bio

Topics of my research intersect Political and Social Philosophy, Feminist Philosophy, and Comparative Philosophy, encompassing major philosophical themes, such as collective self-determination, human rights, global (in)justice, nationalism, and gender justice.

Professional Memberships

  • American Philosophical Association Present
  • Feminist Ethics and Social Theory Present
  • Society for Women in Philosophy Present
  • National Women's Studies Association 2016 - Present
  • Association for Political Theory 2008 - Present
  • Awards and Honors

  • 2015, Bentley Faculty Grant, Bentley University
  • 2015, NEH Summer Institute Grant, National Endowment for the Humanities
  • 2010, NEH Summer Seminar Grant , National Endowment for the Humanities
  • 2008, 2015, 2017, 2018 Bentley Dean's International Travel Fund, Bentley University
  • 2007, 2014 Bentley College Center for Arts and Sciences Fellow, Bentley University
  • 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Bentley Publication Award (discontinued after 2009), Bentley University
  • 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Bentley Summer Research Grant, Bentley University
  • 1998, The Korea Research Foundation (Hankuk Haksul Jinheung Jaedan) Grant
  • 1996, The Best Article of the Year Award, the Korean Association of Philosophical Studies.
  • 1995, The Article of the Year Award (Woo-Am prize) offered by the American Studies Association of Korea (ASAK)
  • Publications

    Journal Articles


  • Herr, R. S. (2023). Liberal Nationalism and Central American Refugees: What Is America’s National Responsibility?. Nations and Nationalism, (29) 1 264-279.
  • Herr, R. S. (2023). Overlapping Consensus View of Human Rights: A Rawlsian Conception. International Theory, (15) 1 1–23.
  • Herr, R. S. (2022). Junzi as a Confucian Feminist Ideal. Journal of Chinese Philosophy , (49) 3 240-253.
  • Herr, R. S. (2021). Indigenous Self-Determination and Gender Justice. Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, (42) 3 1-27.
  • Herr, R. S. (2019). Confucian Democracy as Popular Sovereignty. Asian Philosophy, (29) 3 201-220.
  • Herr, R. S. (2019). Women’s Rights as Human Rights and Cultural Imperialism. Feminist Formations, (31) 3 118-142.
  • Herr, R. S. (2018). Islamist Women’s Agency and Relational Autonomy . Hypatia, (33) 2 195-215.
  • Herr, R. S., Dotson, K., Khader, S., Nyanzi, S., Fatima, S. (2017). Musings: ‘Third World Women’ or ‘Women of Color’?. Hypatia special issue, Contested Terrains: Women of Color, Third World Women, Feminisms, and Geopolitics, (32) 3
  • Herr, R. S. (2017). Too Liberal for Global Governance? International Legal Human Rights System and Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Self-Determination. Journal of International Political Theory , (13) 2
  • Herr, R. S. (2016). Can Transnational Feminist Solidarity Accommodate Nationalism? Reflections from the Case Study of Korean “Comfort Women”. Hypatia, (31) 1 41–57.
  • Herr, R. S. (2014). Reclaiming Third World Feminism: Or Why Transnational Feminism Needs Third World Feminism. Meridians: feminism, race, transnationalism, (12) 1 1–30.
  • Herr, R. S. (2012). Confucian Family for a Feminist Future . Asian Philosophy, (22) 4 327-346. (Link)
  • Herr, R. S. (2010). Agency without Autonomy: Valuational Agency. Journal of Global Ethics , (6) 3 239–254. (Link)
  • Herr, R. S. (2010). Confucian Democracy and Equality. Asian Philosophy, (20 ) 3 261–282. (Link)
  • Herr, R. S. (2009). Democracy in Decent Nonliberal Nations: A Defense. Philosophical Forum, (40) 3 309-337. (Link)
  • Herr, R. S. (2008). Cultural Claims and the Limits of Liberal Democracy. Social Theory and Practice, (34) 1 25-48. (Link)
  • Herr, R. S. (2008). Philosopher's Contribution to the Empowerment of Local Practitioners:A Response to Christine Koggel. The Southern Journal of Philosophy, (46) 131-37. (Link)
  • Herr, R. S. (2008). Politics of Difference and Nationalism: On Iris Young's Global Vision. Hypatia, (23) 3 39-59. (Link)
  • Herr, R. S. (2007). Liberal Multiculturalism: An Oxymoron?. Philosophical Forum, (38) 1 23-41. (Link)
  • Herr, R. S. (2007). Liberal Presumptions: A Response to Curtis. Political Theory, (35) 3 pp. 341-47. (Link)
  • Herr, R. S. (2006). In Defense of Non-liberal Nationalism. Political Theory: An International Journal of Political Philosophy, (34) 3 304-327. (Link)
  • Herr, R. S. (2004). A Third World Feminist Defense of Multiculturalism. Social Theory and Practice: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal of Social Philosophy, (30) 1 73-103. (Link)
  • Herr, R. S. (2003). Is Confucianism Compatible with Care Ethics?: A Critique. Philosophy East & West: A Quarterly of Comparative Philosophy, (53) 4 471-489. (Link)
  • Herr, R. S. (2003). The Possibility of Nationalist Feminism. Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy, (18) 3 135-160. (Link)
  • Herr, R. S., Kim, H. (1999). Confucianism and Contemporary Perspectives in Western Ethics . Philosophy (Korean publication), (61) Winter 319-350.
  • Herr, R. S. (1999). Rawlsian Liberalism and Challenges from Contemporary Ethical theories. Journal of Philosophical Studies (Korean publication), (46) Fall pp. 217-244.
  • Herr, R. S. (1995). Is Cultural Diversity Compatible with Feminism: Confucianism and the Women's Cause. Journal of American Studies (Korean publication), (27) December 153-170.
  • Herr, R. S. (1994). Should We Treat Animals Morally? (in Korean). Philosophy and Reality. 249-275.
  • Herr, R. S. (1994). Why Procedural Principles are Preferable to Substantive Principles. Philosophy (Korean publication), (42) Autumn 355-384.
  • Herr, R. S. (1993). Feminism and Autonomy (in Korean). Philosophy and Reality . 227-242.
  • Herr, R. S. (1993). Procedural Autonomy. Philosophy (Korean publication), (40) Autumn 92-114.

    Books


  • Herr, R. S., Park, S. (2017). Contested Terrains: Women of Color, Third World Women, Feminisms, and Geopolitics, (32) 3Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy
  • Gilligan, C., Herr, R. S. (1997). Darun Moksoriro (Korean translation of In a Different Voice). Seoul, South Korea: Dong-Nyuk Pubishing Company

  • Book Chapters


  • Herr, R. S. (2024). Global Justice and Western Colonialism In Hsin-Wen Lee & Janusz Salamon, (Eds.) Bloomsbury Companion to Global Justice East and West. Bloomsbury
  • Herr, R. S. (2018). Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Self-Determination in the Age of Legal Globalization In , (Eds.) Taming Power in Times of Globalisation . 13-41. Brill
  • Herr, R. S. (2018). Feminism, Nationalism and Transnationalism In , (Eds.) Bloomsbury Companion to Analytic Feminism. 531-558. Bloomsbury
  • Herr, R. S. (2016). Confucian Mothering: The Origin of Tiger Mothering? In Mathew A. Foust and Sor-hoon Tan, (Eds.) FEMINIST ENCOUNTERS WITH CONFUCIUS. Brill
  • Herr, R. S. (2014). Confucian Family-State and Women: A Proposal for Confucian Feminism In Ashley Butnor, Jen McWeeny, (Eds.) Liberating Traditions: Essays in Feminist Comparative Philosophy. . 261–282. N.Y., N.Y. : Columbia UP
  • Herr, R. S. (2013). ‘Comfort Women’ and Japan’s National Responsibility In Melissa Nobles and Jun-Hyeok Kwak, (Eds.) Historical Reconciliation and Inherited Responsibility. Routledge
  • Herr, R. S. (2013). Third World, Transnational, and Global Feminisms In Patrick Mason , (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Race and Racism Vol.4. second 190-195. Routledge
  • Herr, R. S. (2010). Confucianism's Political Implications for the Modern World In Miguel Vatter, (Eds.) Crediting God: The Fate of Religion and Politics in the Age of Global Capitalism. . Bronx, N.Y.: Fordham University Press (Link) Forthcoming.
  • Herr, R. S. (2006). A Third World Feminist Defense of Multiculturalism (trans. into Chinese) In Will Kymlicka, Depu Ma, (Eds.) Collected Works in Sino-Western Political Culture, Vol. 5. . Tianjin, China: Tianjin People's Press (Link)
  • Herr, R. S. (2005). Reflections on Euthanasia (in Korean) In , (Eds.) Happy Blue Jeans: Is “Happy” Life Good Life?. 86-102. Seoul, S.Korea: Woong-Jin Co
  • Herr, R. S. (1996). Overcoming 'Femininity' and 'Masculinity' (in Korean) In , (Eds.) Philosophy and Emotion . 175-212. Seoul: Mineum Publishing Co
  • Herr, R. S. (1995). Justice and Care (in Korean) In , (Eds.) Justice and the Contemporary World . 314-342. Seoul, S. Korea: Philosophy and Reality Co
  • Herr, R. S. (1995). Reflections on Euthanasia (in Korean) In C.H. Kim, (Eds.) Do I Know the Truth? . 217-239. Seoul, S.Korea: Woong-Jin Co
  • Herr, R. S. (1993). A Feminist Challenge to L. Kohlberg's Moral Development Theory (in Korean) In , (Eds.) Major Issues in Social Philosophy III . 328-352. Seoul: Mineum Co
  • Herr, R. S. (1993). Inconsistency in the Notion of Deontological Autonomy (in Korean) In , (Eds.) Reflections on Social Contract . 337-360. Seoul: Philosophy and Reality Co
  • Herr, R. S. (1993). The Procedure of 'Intentionalization' (in Korean) In , (Eds.) Social Development and the Aim of Philosophy . 523-540. Taegu: Imun Co

  • Book Reviews


  • Herr, R. S. (2020). [Review of the book Review of Serene Khader's Decolonizing Universalism ]. Hypatia Reviews Online. (Link) Forthcoming.
  • Herr, R. S. (2018). [Review of the book “From Liberal Feminist to Buddhist Nun: Book Review of Jin Y. Park’s Women and Buddhist Philosophy ]. (2018),” Journal of World Philosophies, (3) 2

  • Presentations

  • Herr, R. S. (2024). “Keynote: Decolonial Feminism and Third World Feminism” Presented at the University of Calgary Graduate Conference on Global Feminism Calgary, Canada
  • Herr, R. S. (2024). “American National Identity and Contested Memories” Presented at the University of Edinburgh ASEN (Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism) conference Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Herr, R. S. (2021). “Inaugural Zoom Talk: Global Philosophies of Mothering: Confucian and Western Perspectives” Presented at the Central Connecticut State University CCSU Philosophy Club New Britain, CT
  • Herr, R. S. (2018). “Does a Feminist Future in East Asia Require Western Feminism?” Presented at the Peking University 24th World Congress of Philosophy Beijing, China
  • Herr, R. S. (2017). “Confucian Democracy as Nonliberal Democracy ” Presented at the Center for Political Thought, RCHSS, Academia Sinica International Conference on “The Voices of Democracy in Confucianism” Taipei City, Taiwan
  • Herr, R. S. (2017). “Islamist Women’s Agency and Relational Autonomy ” Presented at the California State University, LA Ann Garry and Sharon Bishop Feminist Endowed Lecture Cal State, Los Angeles, CA
  • Herr, R. S. (2017). “Confucian Mothering: The Origin of Tiger Mothering?” Presented at the Nanyang Technological University International Conference of the International Society for Chinese Philosophy Singapore
  • Herr, R. S. (2016). “Feminism, Nationalism and Transnationalism” Presented at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell Society for Analytic Feminism Conference Lowell, MA
  • Herr, R. S. (2015). “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Regime: Too Liberal for Global Governance?” Presented at the The Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland The Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland
  • Herr, R. S. (2012). “Can Liberalism Justify Indigenous People’s Moral Right to Self-Determination?” Presented at theGlobal Justice Program Meeting Yale University, New Haven, CT.
  • Herr, R. S. (2011). “Confucian Democracy and Equality” Presented at the City University of Hong Kong Public Lecture Hong Kong
  • Herr, R. S. (2011). “Reclaiming Third World Feminism” Presented at theFeminist Ethics and Social Theory (FEAST) Conference Zion, Illinois
  • Herr, R. S. (2010). “Confucian Family for a Feminist Future” Presented at the City University of Hong Kong International Conference on “Confucian and Liberal Perspectives on Family, State, and Civil Society" Hong Kong, China
  • Herr, R. S. (2010). “Political Liberalism and Equal Respect for Persons” Presented at the Reed College The Association for Political Theory (APT) Conference Portland, Oregon
  • Service

    Department Service


  • Curricular revision 2024 - 2024
  • Mentor (Faculty) for LSM 2010 - 2020
  • Committee Member for Search Committee 2017 - 2018
  • Course Coordinator for LSM 2016 - 2016
  • Committee Member for Search Committee 2015 - 2016
  • University Service


  • Senate Planning Committee 2022 - 2024
  • Senator for Faculty Senate 2018 - 2024
  • Committee Member for Valente Center Advisory Board 2013 - 2018
  • Committee Member for Research Council 2016 - 2018
  • faculty host for Valente Center Visiting Scholar Alison Jaggar 2015 - 2015
  • Committee Member for Research Committee 2010 - 2011
  • Committee Member for Academic Standards Committee 2008 - 2011
  • Committee Member for Bentley International Film Series Organization Committee 2006 - 2011
  • Committee Member for Faculty Nominations Committee 2006 - 2011
  • Professional Service


  • Invited Author Presentation 2024 - 2024
  • Committee Chair for Association for Feminist Ethics and Social Philosophy, International Committee 2017 - 2020
  • Co-editor (with Shelley Park) for Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy special issue, Contested Terrains: Women of Color, Third World Women, Feminisms, and Geopolitics 2015 - 2017
  • Reviewer, Journal Article for Frontiers: Journal of Women’s Studies 2015 - 2015
  • Reviewer, Journal Article for Journal of Women’s History 2015 - 2015
  • Committee Chair for Association for Feminist Ethics and Social Theory (FEAST), Program Committee co-Chair (with Shelley Park) 2013 - 2015
  • Reviewer, Journal Article for Hypatia 2014 - 2014
  • Reviewer, Journal Article for Canadian Journal of Philosophy 2013 - 2013
  • Committee Member for Association for Feminist Ethics and Social Theory (FEAST), Program Committee 2012 - 2013
  • Committee Member for Association for Feminist Ethics and Social Theory (FEAST), Program Committee 2010 - 2011
  • Reviewer, Journal Article for DAO: A JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHILOSOPHY 2010 - 2010
  • Reviewer, Journal Article for Journal of International Political Theory 2010 - 2010
  • Reviewer, Journal Article for American Political Science Review 2009 - 2009
  • Reviewer, Journal Article for Hypatia 2009 - 2009
  • Reviewer, Journal Article for Philosophy East & West 2009 - 2009
  • Reviewer, Journal Article for Social Theory and Practice 2009 - 2009
  • Reviewer, Journal Article for Women’s Studies International Forum 2008 - 2008