John W Krummel

John W. Krummel is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where he has been a faculty member since 2008. He holds PhDs in Religion from Temple University (2008) and in Philosophy from the New School for Social Research (1999), and his academic work bridges continental philosophy, phenomenology, and Asian religious thought, particularly Japanese philosophy and the Kyoto School.

His educational background includes a B.A. in Philosophy from Earlham College (1988), an M.A. in Philosophy from the New School (1994), and two doctoral degrees. He has taught philosophy and religion at institutions including Pace University, Temple University, and the City University of New York since 1996.

Krummel’s research focuses on comparative theology, continental philosophy, and the intersections of Heidegger, Kant, Nishida Kitarō, and Buddhist thought. His recent publications explore themes such as ontological anarchy, the philosophy of imagination, and the Kyoto School’s wartime political philosophy. His work often engages with figures like Miki Kiyoshi, Ueda Shizuteru, and Reiner Schürmann, analyzing concepts of place, nothingness, and multipolarity.

The trends in his recent articles reflect a deep engagement with phenomenology and comparative philosophy, particularly the dialogue between Japanese and Western thought. His scholarship emphasizes ontology, self-awareness, and the critique of modernity, often drawing on interdisciplinary sources from theology, mysticism, and social theory.

• Associate Editor, International Journal of Social Imaginaries (2021–present)
• Assistant Editor, Journal of Japanese Philosophy (SUNY Press)
• Founding President, International Association for Japanese Philosophy

Krummel is actively involved in academic service and leadership, contributing to journals and professional organizations such as the American Philosophical Association, Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy, and the American Academy of Religion. He has also translated major works by Nishida Kitarō and Miki Kiyoshi, enhancing access to Japanese philosophy in the English-speaking world. His research is supported by his bilingual and bicultural background, having been raised in Japan, and his work continues to shape discourse in comparative and continental philosophy.