The Institute of Philosophy was founded in 1955 when it was affiliated to the Faculty of Humanities under Chinese Academy of Sciences. Now it has become one of the largest research bodies of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Currently it is staffed with 126 members including 108 research fellows and 18 administrative assistants. The research fellows herein are composed of 35 professors, 42 associate professors and 31 lecturers. They are engaged in theoretical investigations at large while devoting attention to certain practical issues in the global context. The Institute celebrated its 60^th anniversary in 2015 that has witnessed its leading scholarship at home and its growing impact abroad.

The main structure of the Institute is made up of 12 research sections, six CASS research centers, and five editorial groups of five journals. In addition, it provides managerial supervision over nine academic societies related to varied philosophical disciplines, and conducts the teaching task of the postgraduate programs in collaboration with the CASS Graduate School.

 The 12 Research Sections: Section of Marxist Philosophy, Section of the History of Marxist Philosophy, Section of Marxist Philosophy in China, Section of Chinese Philosophy, Section of Western Philosophy, Section of Contemporary Foreign Philosophy, Section of Eastern Philosophy, Section of Logic, Section of Ethics, Section of Aesthetics, Section of the Philosophy of Science and Technology, and Section of Philosophy and Culture.

 The Six CASS Research Centers: CASS Research Center for Cultural Policy; CASS Research Center for Social Development; CASS Research Center for Science, Technology and Society; CASS Research Center for Applied Ethics; CASS Research Center for Eastern Cultures; and CASS Research Center for Comparative Study of World Civilizations

The Five Journals: Journal of Philosophical Researches (Zhxue yanjiu zazhi, monthly), Journal of Philosophical Trends (Zhexue dongtai zazhi, monthly), Journal of World Philosophies (Shijie zhexue zazhi, bi-monthly), Chinese Yearbook of Philosophy (Zhongguo zhexue nianjian, annually), and Yearbook for Eastern and Western Philosophy(annually).

The Nine Academic Societies: Chinese Society of Dialectical Materialism, Chinese Society of the History of' Marxist Philosophy, Chinese Society of the History of Chinese Philosophy, Chinese Society of the History of Foreign Philosophy, Chinese Society of Contemporary Foreign Philosophy, Chinese Association of Logic, Chinese Society of Ethics, Chinese Society of Aesthetics, and International Association of Yi-Jing Studies.

Research Achievements: In the past ten years, the Institute has accomplished 50 projects funded by the National Foundation for Philosophy and Social Sciences, 93 projects funded by CASS, and 104 projects funded by the Institute itself. As a result, over 300 books (including translations) and 2000 papers have been published, among which there are over 10 books and papers awarded the National Prize, over 20 books and papers awarded CASS Prize, and many others awarded the Institute Prize.

Postgraduate Teaching Task: In collaboration with the CASS Graduate School, the Institute conducts the teaching task on behalf of the Philosophy Department. Since the postgraduate enrollment was resumed in 1978, there are over 590 graduates who have received their Doctorate or Master degrees in philosophy majors. In 1998 the Philosophy Department was ranked as the first-level department by the Academic Degree Granting Commission of the State Council, which means that all philosophical disciplines within the Department are authorized to confer Doctorate degree to the qualified candidates who have fulfilled all the academic requirements. Now there are 23 senior fellows or professors who are working as the third-degree supervisors. Established in 1999 was a post-doctorate center that has received 126 qualified applicants and helped most of them complete their research projects so far.

Academic Exchanges: In the past 10 years the Institute has sent about 50 visiting scholars overseas either for collaborative researches or further studies. Regular International exchange programs follow: the Sino-British-American Summer School of Philosophy, sponsored and academically directed by the British Royal Institute of Philosophy; the Oxford Modern China Study Center, the King’s London College, and Yale University; annual bilateral academic visits to and from colleges and institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, Japan, Russia, and South Korea, etc. Up till now the Institute has received a number of renowned visitors such as Jurgen Habermas, Richard Rorty and Axel Honneth, among others. Moreover, it has invited and appointed 17 distinguished scholars from different countries as Guest Professors. And meanwhile over ten fellows of the Institute have been invited or appointed as visiting professors by a number of universities overseas.