Dr. Jojo Joseph Varakukalayil

JojoJoseph Fr. Dr. Jojo Joseph Varakukalayil
Superior General
Little Flower Generalate
Thrikkakara P.O. - 682021
Kochi, Kerala, INDIA
0091-7356988372 Personal
0091-94951 37199 Office
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Status Roman Catholic Priest
Religious Order Congregation of St. Therese of Child Jesus of Lisieux (CST Fathers)
Date of Birth 20.01.1974
Place of Birth Kalathoor, Kerala, India
Passport no P5013763
Nationality Indian
Parents name Mr. Joseph Varkey (father)
Mrs. Alekutty Joseph (mother)
Current address Jojo Joseph Varakukalayil
Little Flower Institute of Philosophy & Religion
Little Flower Seminary, Little Flower Road
Aluva – 683101, KERALA, INDIA
Academic Background SSLC – Kerala State Syllabus, 1990
Pre-University – Punjab School Education Board, 1991- 1993
BPh – Bachelor of Philosophy, Little Flower Institute of Philosophy & Religion, Aluva, 1994-1996
MPh – Master of Philosophy, Jnan-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pontifical Institute Of Philosophy & Religion, Pune 1996-1998
BTh – Bachelor of Theology, Paurastya Vidyapitham, Pontifical Oriental Institute of Religious Studies, Kottayam, 1999-2002
BSC. Psy. – Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Madras University, Chennai, 2003-2006
MPhil – Metaphysics and Modern Philosophy – Higher Institute of Philosophy, Catholic University of Leuven, 2017-2018.
PhD – Racism and the Body Emmanuel Levinas’ Ethicization of the Embodied Subject – Husserl Archives: Center for Phenomenology and Continental Philosophy at Higher Institute of Philosophy, Catholic University of Leuven, 2017-2018.
Diploma in Youth counselling, Kristu Jyoti College, Bangalore
Diploma in PRH - Personality and Human Relations, Centre for Personality Development and Human Relations, Bangalore
Diploma in computer Programs (MS Office, MS Excel, coral draw, Sanjivani academy of computer science, Kottayam)
Work Experience Teaching experience – 1998-1999; 2003-2007; 2015-
Administrator – Little Flower Institute of Philosophy & Religion, Aluva, 2003 - 2006
Treasure of Institute of Science and Religion, Aluva, 2003 – 2006
Director: Prathibha Youth Centre - Little Flower Youth Forum, Aluva, 2003-2006
Member of the formation team at Little Flower Major Seminary, Aluva, 2003-2007
Vice-Rector, Little Flower Major Seminary, 2006-2007
Vice-Rector, Little Flower Major Seminary, 2016-1017
President, Little Flower Institute of Philosophy & Religion, Aluva, 2016-
Current Affairs
  1. President, Little Flower Institute of Philosophy and Religion 2016
  2. Resident Formation Staff at Little Flower Major Seminary, Aluva
  3. Director, Institute of Science and Religion, Aluva, 2016
  4. Executive Body Member - Association of Christian Philosophers India (ACPI) 2003
  5. Secretary to Indian Leuven Alumnee Association, 2016
  6. Editorial Board Member – Homo sapiens – Travancore Journal of Philosophy 2017
  7. Member - North American Levinas Society (NALS)
Academic Papers (select)
  1. Ecology our Grave Concern towards a Holistic vision of Reality.
  2. Ethics as first Philosophy: a Philosophical inquiry into Levinasian Epiphany of the Face.
  3. Metaphysical implications of Cosmotheandreric Christology: Towards a Philosophical-theological reading into Raymond Panikkers’ Cosmotheandric Christology.
  4. From Technology to Ecology: Reflections on Heidegger’s Ecological consciousness in his search for the meaning of being.
  5. Paradigm Shifts: Study of Thomas Kuhn’s Concept of Scientific Development.
  6. Identity and Choice: Amartya Sen’s vision of Rational Choice of Identity
  7. Dilemma of Determinism and the “natural turn” - Reflections on P. F. Strawson’s “Freedom and Resentment”
  8. Within and Without - God(s) mystic and Mysticism – On William Desmond’s Metaxogical Philosophy.
  9. Voicing for Democracy – Claude Leforts’s Reflection on Power in Totalitarianism and Democracy.
Academic Articles (select)
  1. “Spirituality of Diminution: Reflections on Theresian Spiritualty,” in Olive (Thrikkakara: Congregational Bulletin, Oct 1996).
  2. “Postmodernism: Aim and Scope,” in Jyothirgamaya (Kottayam: St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary Students’ Journal, March 2002).
  3. “Beyond the Naked Face: Metaphysics of the non-Phenomenon,” in Jubilee Souvenir, (Kottayam: Paurathya-Vidapitham, March, 2003).
  4. “Egoism: a Philosophical Reflections of the Self and Selfishness,” in Jeevadhara (Kottayam, 2004)
  5. “Dalit Reality: a Biblical Appropriation of the sub-Altern,” in Jeevadhara (Kottayam, 2004)
  6. “The God part of the Human Brain,” in Omega: Indian Journal of science and Religion ( Aluva, 2005)
  7. “Research is Adoration: Science-Religion Dialogue,” in Mathavum Chinthayam (Aluva, 2005)
  8. ”Otherwise than being and not being otherwise: Humanism of the Other,” in Re-Humanising the Human, ed. Pamplany Augustine, (Aluva: Little Flower Institute of Philosophy & Religion,” 2006)
  9. “Feminist Biblical Hermeneutic: Towards equal Discipleship in a Global Context” in Bbible Bhasyam (Kottayam, 2006).
  10. “Cosmic Religiosity as Poetic Recollections,” in Romancing the Sacred? Towards an Indian Christian Philosophy of Religion, George Karuvelil (ed.), (Bangalore: ATC Publication, 2007).
  11. “Body as Subjectivity to Ethical Signification of the Body: Revisiting Levinas’s Early Conception of the Subject,” in ‘Sophia’ International Journal of Philosophy and Traditions (DOI: 10.007/s11841-015-0475-z, 2015).
  12. “The Flesh Becomes the Word ‘me voici, Here I am’: On Incarnating Responsibility in Emmanuel Levinas” in Towards Better Humanity: Ethics and Ethos, Roy Palatty (ed.), (Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, forthcoming).
  13. “Phenomenology in Introduction to Contemporary Movements in Philosophy” (forthcoming book chapter).
  14. “Small Goodness (la petite bonte) as Human Flourishing: Overcoming Structural Goodness through Ethical Transcendence,” in Jnanadeepa – Pune Journal of Religious Studies, Vol. 24/2, 2020, 42-60.
  15. “Poetic Dwelling as Ecological Mindfulness: Re-visiting Heidegger’s Deconstruction of Metaphysics through Technology to Ecology,” in Logic and Love: Reflecting on Professor John Vatttanky’s Contribution to Indian Philosophy and Spirituality, Eds. Thomas Karimundackal and Kuruvilla Pandikattu (Delhi: Christian World Imprints, 2019), 271-284.
  16. “Will as Freedom: Hegel’s Philosophy of Freewill,” in Reason Faithful and True: Essays in Honour of Dr George Karuvelil SJ, eds. Thomas Karimundcakl and Dolichan Kollarath (Delhi: Christian World Imprint, 2020), 37-56.
  17. “Social Media and the Politics of Truth in the Post-Truth Era,” in Journal of Media Studies (Delhi: Media Publications, 2020), 12-29.
  18. “Manushyan Enna Eka Matham,” in Mathavum Chinthayum, Vol 100-A, July August 2019, 16-29.
Papers presented (select)
  1. “Eucharist Makes the Church” at a Theological forum at Purastya-Vidyapeetham, Kottayam, 2000.
  2. “Re-living the History: Ecclesial Reflections on Churches dynamism for unity,” Paurastya Vidyapeetham, Kottaym, 2002.
  3. “Science and Religion: Conflict to Complementarity,” St. Joseph’s Educational College, Cochin, 2005.
  4. “Scientists are the High Priests of the all Mighty: Reflections on Science and Religion,” Chaitanya Pastoral Institute, Kottayam, 2005
  5. “Philosophy of Social work” Lissah College, Kozhikode, 2005
  6. “Emerging Paradigms in Science Religion Dialogue,” Loyola College, Trivadrum, 2006
  7. “Cosmic religiosity as Poetic Recollections: Prospectus for the Future in the Pluralistic Context of the sub-continent India,” ACPI Conference, Chennai, 2006.
  8. “Denial of the Otherness of the Other: Re-Reading Emmanuel Levinas’s Thought on Racism,” Thinking With(Out) Borders, International Political Theory Conference, St. Andrews University, Scotland, UK, 2010.
  9. “The Flesh Becomes the Word (me voici): Incarnative Responsibility in Emmanuel Levinas,” Towards Building a More Responsible Society, KU Leuven, Missio International Annual Conference, American College, Leuven, BELGIUM, 2010.
  10. ‘Defining the “I” Beyond Racism: The I of Enjoyment Is Neither Biological Nor Sociological (Reading TI Part II A.6).’ Celebrating Totality and Infinity at 50, North American Levinas Society International Conference (NALS) at Texas A&M University, USA, 2011.
  11. “The Representative Claim and Three Dimensions of Power,” Bi-annual Doctoral Conference at Centre for Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, HIW KU Leuven, Higher Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven, BELGIUM, 2012.
  12. “Emmanuel Levinas on Racism and the Crisis of very Humanity of (hu)man,” Emmanuel Levinas: a Radical Thinker in the Time of Crisis” International Conference at Vilnius University, Lithuania, 2015.
  13. “Poetically Man Dwells: On Heidegger and Ecology” To be at Home in our Common Home Department of Christian Studies and Department of Geology, Madras University, Chennai, 2016.
  14. “Christian Humanism: Probing the Dynamics of the East-West Perspectives on Human Person,” Human Person: East-West Perspectives, Inter-Seminary Philosophy Seminar, Aluva, 2016.
  15. “Heidegger on Ecological Mindfulness” – Lectio Brevis at Little Flower Institute of Philosophy and Religion, 1 June 2017.
  16. “Social Media and the Politics of Truth in the Post-Truth Era,” 2nd National Media Conference (NMC) on Contemporary Media Landscapes, Challenges and Opportunities conducted by NISCORT Media College, 13 March 2020, Delhi.
  17. “Small Goodness (la petite bonte) as Human Flourishing: Overcoming Structural Goodness through Ethical Transcendence,” International Seminar in Honour of Richard De Smet SJ and Jean de Marneffe SJ on Humanising Social Life: Humanization of Social Life: Philosophical Issues and Practical Concerns Friday 17- Saturday 18 January 2020, Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune 411014.
Participated in Seminars National and International (select)
  1. International Theological Conference on Ecclesiology, at Paurastya Vidyapitham Kottayam, 2001-2002.
  2. National Christian philosophical conference, on Philosophical Methods – through prevalent to a relevant in Bangalore, 2003-2004
  3. National Conference on Bio-Tech Revolutions at Kochi, 2003
  4. National Philosophical Symposium on Human Person in Context at Little Flower Major Seminary, Institute of Philosophy and Religion, Aluva, 2004
  5. National Christian Philosophical conference on Subaltern Perspectives – Philosophizing in Context, Punjab, 2004-2005
  6. National Christian Philosophical conference on Pluralism: A Challenge To Philosophizing In Todays India, Darjeeling, 2005- 2006
  7. Christian Faith in an Evolving World of Science – Science-Religion Seminar under the aegis of the CBCI committee for Science and Religion, Layola College, Trivandrum, 2006
  8. National Christian Philosophical Conference on Dynamics of Religion: A Philosophical Review from the Indian Perspectives, Chennai, 2006- 2007.
  9. Thinking With(Out) Borders, International Political Theory Conference, St. Andrews University, Scotland, UK, 2010.
  10. Celebrating Totality and Infinity at 50, North American Levinas Society International Conference (NALS) at Texas A&M University, USA, 2011.
  11. Bi-annual Doctoral Conference at Centre for Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, HIW KU Leuven, Higher Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven, BELGIUM, 2012.
  12. Towards Building a More Responsible Society, KU Leuven, Missio International Annual Conference, American College, Leuven, BELGIUM, 2010.
  13. Emmanuel Levinas: a Radical Thinker in the Time of Crisis” International Conference at Vilnius University, Lithuania, 2015.
  14. “Poetically Man Dwells: On Heidegger and Ecology” To be at Home in our Common Home Department of Christian Studies and Department of Geology, Madras University, Chennai, 2016.
  15. “Christian Humanism: Probing the Dynamics of the East-West Perspectives on Human Person,” Human Person: East-West Perspectives, Inter-Seminary Philosophy Seminar, Aluva, 2016.
  16. National Conference on ‘Religion and Ecology’, Madras University, Chennai, 2016.
  17. ‘Challenges and Opportunities – Modern Science and Contemporary Religion in Dialogue’, Two Day National Conference on Philosophy Science & Religion, Nov. 24-25, 2017, at LIPAR, Aluva, 1.
  18. “Heidegger on Ecological Mindfulness” – Lectio Brevis at Little Flower Institute of Philosophy and Religion, 1 June 2017.
  19. “Social Media and the Politics of Truth in the Post-Truth Era,” 2nd National Media Conference (NMC) on Contemporary Media Landscapes, Challenges and Opportunities conducted by NISCORT Media College, 13 March 2020, Delhi.
  20. “Small Goodness (la petite bonte) as Human Flourishing: Overcoming Structural Goodness through Ethical Transcendence,” International Seminar in Honour of Richard De Smet SJ and Jean de Marneffe SJ on Humanising Social Life: Humanization of Social Life: Philosophical Issues and Practical ConcernsFriday 17- Saturday 18 January 2020, Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune 411014.
Lectures in  
Philosophy
  1. Introduction to Western Philosophy
  2. Greek Wisdom – Studies in Ancient Greek Philosophy
  3. Reason and Faith - Reflections on Medieval Philosophy
  4. Story of Being – Introduction to General Metaphysics
  5. Postmodernism: Trends and Proponents
  6. Moral Thought – General Introduction to Moral Philosophy
  7. Social Philosophy
  8. Modern Philsophy: Isms in Conflicts
  9. Ecosophy: In-depth Study in Philosophical Ecology
  10. Phenomenology of Human Existence
  11. Philosophy of Culture and Modernity
  12. Themes & Debates in Existentialist Literature
  13. Advanced Questions in Theories of Knowledge
  14. Epistemology – Theories of Knowledge
  15. Post-Deconstructive Subjectivity
  16. Contemporary Trends in Continental Philosophy
  17. Introduction to Phenomenology
  18. Ethical Phenomenology – An In-depth Study in Emmanuel Levinas’s Philosophy
  19. Infinite Demands and Uncertainty: In-depth Studies in Levinas and Derrida
  20. Phenomenology and Existentialism
  21. Advanced Questions in Philosophy of Being - Christian Metaphysics
Philosophical Seminars and Tutorials
  1. Reading Plato’s Republic
  2. Re-visiting Rene Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy
  3. Reading Martin Heidegger’s Being and Time
  4. Reading Emmanuel Levinas from Jacques Derridean Prism – The Ethics of Deconstruction
  5. Phenomenology of Religious Life and Prayer
English Language
  1. English Grammar
  2. English Phonetics
  3. Academic Writing in Humanities and Presentation Skills
Formation Psychology
  1. Developmental Psychology
  2. Motivational Psychology and Positive Thinking
  3. Positive Thinking and Effective Living
Visiting Faculty at
  1. Janan-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune, Maharashtra
  2. Dharmaram Vidyakshetram, Bangalore
  3. Sacred Heart Philosophical College, Aluva
  4. St. Joseph’s Pontifical Institute, Aluva
  5. CRI - Institute of Philosophy, Bangalore
  6. Paurasthya-Vidyapitham, St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam
  7. Mary Matha Major Seminary, Trichur
  8. Little Flower Major Seminary, Aluva
  9. St Joseph’s Philosophical College, Kottagiri
  10. De Paul Institute of Philosophy, Bangalore
Area of Specialization
  1. Phenomenology and Deconstruction (Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger, Maurice
  2. Merleau-Ponty, Emmanuel Levinas, Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Derrida, Jean-Luc
  3. Marion, Michel Foucault, Hannah Arendt & Michel Henry)
  4. Trends in Continental Philosophy (Post-modernism, Structuralism and Post
  5. Structuralism, Post-Colonialism, Cultural Studies, Neo-Marxism, Critical Theory,
  6. French Feminism, Anthropology & Psycho-Analysis)
  7. Metaphysics and Culture
  8. Modern Philosophy (Rationalism & German Idealism)
  9. Racism and Post-colonial Studies
  10. Ecosophy and Eastern Thought
  11. Plato Studies
  12. Contemporary Readings in Literary Criticism – Reading Philosophical Novels: 1. Life and Fate; 2) Ulysses; 3) Crime and Punishment and Brothers Karamazov; 4) Kafka and Camus Novels

Administration