Being a proud part of Savitribai Phule Pune University (also famous as Oxford of the east) the department of Philosophy is one of the oldest and largest philosophy departments in the country. It was established in 1965 under the first headship of Late Prof. V.S.Narvane, a very distinguished philosopher of culture and value. Later Late Prof. S.S.Barlingay, another distinguished philosopher of the country, succeeded Prof. Narvane and raised the department to the new heights of excellence. The department also flourished under the valued guidance and headship of Late Prof. R.Sundara Rajan and Late Prof. M.P.Marathe.

Many well known distinguished scholars from the country have been associated with the department in different capacities namely Prof. D.P.Chattopadhyaya, Prof. P. K. Sen, Prof. Daya Krishna, Prof. Rajendra Prasad, Prof. K.J.Shah, Prof. Bhuvan Chandel, Prof.RooprekhaVerma, Prof. Rekha Jhanjhi, Prof. Mrinal Miri, Prof. Chhanda Gupta, Prof. A.P. Rao, Prof. Biswambhar Pahi, Prof. M.K. Bhadra, Prof. P.K.Mukhopadhyaya, Prof. S. R. Bhatt, Prof. Sriniwas Rao, Prof. Amita Chatterji, Prof. Ashok Vohra, Prof. R.C.Pradhan, Prof. Paneerselvam, Prof. A.V.Afonso, Prof.P.R.Bhatt, Prof. S.P. Gautam and Prof.Tarabai Bhawalkar, Prof. V. Mani Ckeval.

From abroad many philosophers and experts in various disciplines visited and delivered lectures in the department namely Prof. Purushottam Billimoria, Prof Ashok Gangadeen, Prof Michel Stith, Prof. Darryl Maccer, Prof. William Sweet, Dr. Frank Leavitt, Prof. R. Pulingandla, Prof. Manfred Stassen, Prof. Harsh Dahejia, Dr. Ines Fornell, Prof. Sonia Sikka, and Prof. Edward J. Bergman.

The department also has had the privilege of being headed by its other eminent scholars and faculty members namely Prof. Talghatti, Prof. Baliram Shukla, Prof. S.S More, Prof. M. R. Chinchore, Prof. Sharad Deshpande, Prof. S.E. Bhelke and Prof. S.K. Chahal. Another scholar from the department Prof. P.P.Gokhale served as faculty member and Adjunct Professor. Other faculty members, Late Dr. Meena Kelker, Late Dr. R.T.Rathod and Dr. K.C.Rauta also contributed to the department academically.

The faculty members of the department have specialization in both Indian and Western Philosophy. Areas like Classical Indian and Western Tradition, Buddhism, Jainism, Nyaya Philosophy, Continental Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Religion, Logic, Philosophical Reasoning, Ethics, Applied Ethics, Feminist Philosophy, Socio-Political Philosophy and Saints philosophy are well integrated in the teaching and research.

The Department is recognized by the University Grants Commission as a department of Special Assistance. It has completed three phases of SAP successfully. The Department has also completed UGC scheme of Assistance for Strengthening of Infrastructure for Humanities and Social Sciences (ASIHSS) successfully. Recently the Department has been awarded the Centre for Advanced Studies in Philosophy (CAS) by UGC. The Department has well equipped library, computer lab, conference hall and a Reading hall.

The Department publishes three quarterly Journals in Philosophy i.e. Indian Philosophical Quarterly (Since 1973), Paramarsha (Hindi) (Since 1979) and Paramarsha (Marathi) (Since 1979).

The Department regularly organizes ‘Gurudev Ranade Memorial Lecture Series’, ‘Rishabhdas Ranka Memorial Lecture Series’ and ‘Dayakrishna Students’ Seminar’.