About the Institute of Philosophy
History
Philosophy has been studied at Leuven since the foundation of the university in 1425. In 1889 the Institute of Philosophy attained an independent status due to the efforts of Cardinal Désiré Mercier. Mercier founded the Institute to renew philosophical reflection in response to the then regnant spirit of positivism.
The university has its roots in the Middle Ages, and so the Institute first sought inspiration in the scholastic tradition exemplified by Thomas Aquinas. Since then the Institute has been hospitable to different contemporary ways of thinking. In addition to more traditional approaches, phenomenology, contemporary French philosophy, Anglo-Saxon philosophy, hermeneutics and psychoanalysis have all contributed to the intellectual life of the Institute.
At the time of its foundation the Institute was named "The Higher Institute of Philosophy", as it originally offered graduate and post-graduate programmes. Studies rapidly expanded, with the addition of undergraduate studies as well as a full programme in the Dutch language. The English language International Programme dates from the time (1969) the university divided between the French-speaking and Flemish-speaking communities. In the International Programme a student can follow a full course of studies, in English, from BA to PhD.
With the reorganisation of the KU Leuven in 1993, the Higher Institute of Philosophy (HIW) was given the official status of a faculty. However, it retained its historic name of "The Higher Institute of Philosophy"
Mission Statement
The Institute of Philosophy enjoys the status of a faculty, on equal footing with the other faculties within the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. As the Department of Philosophy, the Institute is officially responsible for all philosophical research carried out in the university. This responsibility includes the organisation of a variety of degree programmes in philosophy, as well as providing the philosophy courses that are part of the curricula in other faculties.
The Institute aims at being a centre for advanced philosophical learning and research. The teaching of philosophy is based on the faculty's personal scholarly research combined with a programme that emphasises the study of the history of philosophy. The students acquire a critical and methodological approach to philosophy, one that allows them to participate actively in ongoing research. Specialised centres have been established within the Institute to support the diverse fields of research being pursued here.
The Institute strives to fulfill an interdisciplinary task among the various faculties of the university. The study of philosophy is undertaken in close contact with the arts and sciences in order to promote discourse and interaction between the various disciplines. Further, in establishing a dialogue between philosophy,the arts and the sciences, the Institute addresses itself to problems affecting the foundations of these disciplines.
The Institute wishes to contribute in its own way to an understanding of the proper role of the university within the wider community. It sees the primary task of a university with respect to society (especially that of a Catholic university) as a place for critical thought and ethical reflection. The Institute of Philosophy supports this role of the university by helping to situate scholarly activity, historical understanding and artistic expression within the context of human values.
