Mieczysław Lubański was born on 26 September 1924 in Warsaw. He studied mathematics at the University of Warsaw (1945–1950), as well as philosophy and theology at the Higher Metropolitan Seminary in Warsaw (1955–1958), and philosophy of nature at the Catholic University of Lublin (1959–1962). He was ordained priest on 3 August 1958. He obtained his doctorate in philosophy in the field of philosophy of nature at the Catholic University of Lublin in 1965 (thesis entitled: An attempt to analyze the concept of the individual in physics and philosophy). He obtained the degree of Doctor of Humanities in the field of philosophy of mathematics and philosophy of natural sciences at the Academy of Catholic Theology in Warsaw (ACT) in 1973 (dissertation: Philosophical issues of information theory). He was awarded the title of full professor in 1990.
He taught at the University of Warsaw (1949–1955), at the Faculty of Philosophy of Nature of the Catholic University of Lublin (1963–1965), at the Higher Metropolitan Seminary in Warsaw; at the Faculty of Christian Philosophy of ACT/CSWU in Warsaw (since 1983). As a member of the ACT, he was the plenipotentiary of the Rector for academic affairs (1975–1980). He served as vice-dean of the Faculty of Christian Philosophy (1978–1980) and then for two terms as dean (1981–1984; 1984–1987). He headed the Department of Methodology of System and Information Sciences (1982–1994). Until the end of his academic activity, he held commissioned lectures and a scientific seminar.
He was the author and editor of several hundred scientific publications. He promoted 7 PhDs and was the supervisor of 37 dissertations. He was also a reviewer of many scientific dissertations and specialist publications. He collaborated with scientific journals: Roczniki Filozoficzne, Studia Philosophiae Christianae, Collectanea Theologica, and Warszawskie Studia Teologiczne.
He conducted scientific research in the following problem areas: (1) the essence and types of scientific, philosophical, and theological thinking; (2) the evolution of scientific and philosophical concepts and ideas; (3) the philosophical and world-view implications of newer scientific fields, especially system-information; (4) systemic anthropology; (5) the issue of the unity of human knowledge in the face of its diversity. His research interests also included the philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of nature, philosophy of natural science, philosophical aspects of information theory, theory of cognition and mathematics, and cybernetics. He dealt with problems at the borderline of the sciences, particularly mathematics, and philosophy.
He had a keen sense of worldview, philosophical and scientific issues. His scientific work was always characterized by reliability and meticulousness, and his publications were characterized by clarity and conciseness. He was described by inventiveness, criticism, and erudition. He received numerous awards for his scholarly activity, including the Golden Cross of Merit (1974), the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1979), and the Gratae Memoriae Signum Catholicae Universitatis Lublinensis (2012). He left behind his students and collaborators, who continue to benefit from his thoughts and scientific work style while conducting research activities. He remains in the memory of his co-workers and students as a man of a highly critical approach to reality and action, combining the realism of life and the reality of human experience with faith, reliable use of time, and great respect for another human being.
Prof. Mieczysław Lubański died on 4 July 2015 in Warsaw.