Historical background

Today's Institut Supérieur de Philosophie is the heir to the Institut founded under the same name in 1889 by Désiré Mercier.

Its foundational charter is a Papal Brief dated November 8, 1889, wherein Pope Leo XIII expressed his delight upon hearing that, in response to his request, the bishops had decided to establish an assembly of chairs within the Catholic University of Louvain, collectively known as the "Higher Institute of Philosophy." The institute was also given the designation "Saint Thomas Aquinas School," marking it as a center for the revival of Thomism, as advocated by Leo XIII. Mercier envisioned neo-Thomism as a fresh philosophical approach, one that was actively engaged with contemporary issues, as well as with the natural and human sciences. In 1912, Simon Deploige, Mercier's successor, secured a position for the president of the ISP on the University's General Council as a bishop-appointed member.

Since its inception, the Société philosophique de Louvain has been responsible for disseminating the research carried out within it. It initially published the Louvain Neo-Scholastic Review for this purpose, which was renamed the Philosophical Review of Louvain in 1946. Teaching and research at the institute gradually coalesced around four main pillars: the historical and critical examination of prominent philosophers, an exploration of the techniques and methods employed in the sciences, an investigation into the interplay between Christian faith and reason, and an analysis of the interconnections between philosophy and societal life. In 1923, A. Michotte, an ISP professor, established a School of Pedagogy and Psychology Applied to Education, over which he presided. This school evolved into the Institute of Applied Psychology and Pedagogy in 1944, laying the groundwork for what is now the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences.

The Dutch section of the Institute was formed in 1933, with the French-speaking and Dutch-speaking sections unified under a single president. The division of the university's two sections, contemplated since 1962 and finalized in 1968, was legally recognized in 1970, leading to the creation of two independent universities. In December 1968, the Institute's Council ratified the split of the French-speaking (Higher Institute of Philosophy) and Dutch-speaking (Hoger Instituut voor Wijsbegeerte) sections. Albert Dondeyne, the last joint president elected in May 1968, retained his title in name until 1971, though by 1969, two new presidents were appointed to lead the respective sections. In 1978, the ISP relocated from Louvain to Louvain-la-Neuve.

In 1983, the Institute was conferred the additional title of Faculty of Philosophical Sciences, thereby consolidating all philosophy professors and assistants who were previously scattered across various faculties.

Since the 2009-2010 academic year, the Higher Institute of Philosophy has been recognized as a distinct research entity, separate from the School of Philosophy. The latter forms part of the Faculty of Philosophy, Arts, and Letters (FIAL), which now oversees the administration of philosophical education.

For more info :

- Mirguet, Fr. et Fr. Hiraux. L’Institut supérieur de philosophie de Louvain (1889-1968). Inventaire des archives - introduction historique.
Louvain-la-Neuve, Academia-Bruylant, 2008.

- De Raeymaeker, Louis. Le cardinal Mercier et l’Institut supérieur de philosophie de Louvain. Louvain, Publications universitaires de Louvain, 1952.

- De Raeymaeker, Louis. Les origines de l'Institut supérieur de Philosophie de Louvain. In: Revue Philosophique de Louvain. Troisième série, Tome 49, N°24, 1951. pp. 505-633.