The Institute of Philosophy and Sociology was formed in 1956. Research in sociology at the institute is focused on the following areas:

• social structure - social inequality analysis, social mobility, theoretical and empirical research on the dynamics of interest during the systemic transformation and formation of civil society
• institutions - the role of elites in the process of creating a new political system and political structure
• gender studies - general theory and methodology
• theory of culture - the cultural dimension of the systemic change and the anthropological features of this change, life styles, theoretical concepts related to the post-communist systemic transformation
• research on living conditions in Poland, social problems and social policy

There are four main areas of research in philosophy

• history of philosophy
• theory of knowledge
• logic, methodology, and action theory
• philosophy and sociology of religion

There are two schools affiliated to the Institute, the Graduate School for Social Research, and the Central European University’s Sociology Department.