The Department of Philosophy at the The Pontifical University of John Paul II in Cracow bears a very distinct character. Being well founded on the Christian occidental philosophical tradition (augustianism and thomism), we reach out towards the contemporary trends in philosophy such as philosophy of language, analytical philosophy, phenomenology, hermeneutics and Polish philosophy. Our faculty members conduct research in the areas ranging from ethics, bioethics, philosophy of man, metaphysics and philosophy of religion through logic, philosophy of science, philosophy of physics and cosmology. In particular, the modern arena of the relations between science and religion remains within the scope of research interests of the faculty members who form the Center for the Interdisciplinary Studies (OBI) at our department. The Center offers a unique environment to study a variety of issues resulting from the interaction of natural sciences such as physics, biology and neuroscience with philosophy and theology.

In March, 2008, Prof. Michael Heller, the Head of the Philosophy of Nature Group at the Department of Philosophy and the Director of the Center for the Interdisciplinary Studies, was awarded the prestigious 2008 Templeton Prize in recognition of his "quest for deeper understanding has led to pioneering breakthroughs in religious concepts and knowledge as well as expanding the horizons of science." The entire Templeton Prize money was dedicated by Prof. Heller to help create the Copernicus Center in conjunction with Jagiellonian University and the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Cracow to further research and education in science and theology as an academic discipline. The activity of the Copernicus Center was solemnly inaugurated on October 2, 2008 at the Collegium Maius of the Jagiellonian University. The website of the Copernicus Center can be visited at www.CopernicusCenter.net.