The Institute of Ecology and Bioethics was established at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in 2002. Earlier, in the 1984/85 academic year, the Faculty of Christian Philosophy saw the formation of a new speciality in philosophy called “Human Ecology and Bioethics”. The first coordinator of this section was Professor Bernard Hałaczek, and then, from 1999, Professor Józef M. Dołęga.
There were two reasons for linking up ecology with bioethics. The first reason was the recognition of a common source of problems emerging in ecology and bioethics. It is the possibility of human interference in nature and the biology of man, coupled with scientific and technological developments. Along with these new possibilities there emerge new, specifically human problems. It is impossible to deal with them without new and deepened reflection on the concept of man, nature and the relationship between them. Now the Faculty of Christian Philosophy was naturally predisposed to reflect on these issues because of its theoretical background, which was the second reason for the formation of the “Human Ecology and Bioethics” speciality. Its organizational structure defined the scope of its research as it comprised four departments: the Philosophy of Man, Philosophy of Ecology, History and Methodology of Science, and Bioethics. Research carried out within this speciality was focused on the following problem areas:
•    Ecological issues, concerned with the history and significance of environment protection in Poland; research was conducted on the ecological awareness of various social groups and served as the basis for educational programmes. Since 1990 these issues have been the subject of master’s theses. At that time, as a result of open competition, the department was also granted financial resources by the Ministry of Education for the initial realization of the research programme “Ecological education”. The programme consisted of several stages and took into account theoretical, practical and pedagogical aspects. The fact that the issue of ecological education was dealt with by other research centres provided an opportunity for cooperating with them in this field. Another important problem in this area was a set of issues concerning the use of atomic energy and an attempt to assess activities connected with it. Last but not least, a number of matters was raised concerning the widely understood eco-philosophy and eco-ethics.
•    The second problem area was bioethical issues. It can be summed up in the phrase “man in the context of scientific and technological developments”. Among the most often addressed issues were those connected with transplantology and genetic engineering. Much attention was given to the beginning and end of human life. Many issues were dealt with concerning procreation and man’s right to dignified death. A special emphasis was put on analyzing the phylogenetic and ontogenetic beginning and development of man.
•    The next problem area involved the ecological crisis in the context of scientific and technological development. Studies carried out in this field are axiological analyses concerned with the nature of science. Attempts were also made to answer the question: “Is modern science to blame for the destructive interference in nature and thus for the contemporary ecological crisis?” The affirmative answer has fostered an anti-scientific attitude, irrationality, and thus has hindered many pro-ecological initiatives and attitudes. It seems, however, that it is not the modern concept of science that is to blame for the negative consequences of scientific progress but its extreme scientistic interpretation, expressed and popularized by monism and philosophical reductionism. This view is substantiated by historical and methodological analyses. The changing concepts of science are instrumental in shaping human attitudes towards the environment.
•    The fourth problem area touches upon human behaviour, ethology, sociobiology, philosophical anthropology, evolutionary theory of cognition and eco-philosophy. Each of these disciplines is expected to contribute to the modern research on man’s essence and nature. Hence, ethology and sociobiology are approached from the vantage point of the nature versus nurture debate. The evolutionary theory of cognition, in turn, is treated as a contemporary interpretation of the concept of man, who is inherently embedded in culture. The eco-philosophical issues are approached in terms of the thesis to the effect that a given model of culture is conditioned by a particular concept of man. The thesis serves as the basis for the analysis of the technocratic civilization.
As a result of transforming the Academy of Catholic Theology into the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, the structure of the faculty was also reorganized. In 2002, the speciality “Human Ecology and Bioethics” became a separate Institute of Ecology and Bioethics. Within the new framework, the following research areas were envisaged: human ontogenesis and phylogenesis, criteria for defining the beginning and end of human life, abortion, euthanasia, genetic manipulation, medical experiments, in vitro fertilization, transplants, factors shaping procreative and pro-ecological attitudes, causes of the ecological crisis, philosophical and ethical dimension of the relation between man and nature, ecological education at school and out of school, process of science development and its nature, dilemmas of science and technology, issues in toxicology, environment protection and management, public health, human genetic risks, and mechanisms of cultural adaptation. Apart from lectures, students attended classes geared to prepare them for future work in these fields. Initially Environment Protection was the only major.
Environment Protection is a two-cycle study programme (bachelor studies – 3 years; master studies – 2 years). The curricula of both majors also include courses in philosophy. Thus, students demonstrate mastery not only in natural sciences but also in the humanities, which enables them to better understand ecological problems.