It was founded in 1994 in Saas-Fee, Switzerland by the Swiss scientist, artist, and therapist, Paolo Knill.

[5][6] A division of Media and Communication (later renamed Philosophy, Art and Critical Thought) was established in 1998 by Wolfgang Schirmacher.

[11] Teaching is mostly remote, with required attendance for short periods at the school; ad hoc meetings in various cities also take place.

[12] Notable faculty members have included Giorgio Agamben,[13] Chantal Akerman,[14] Pierre Alféri[15] Judith Butler,[16] Achille Mbembe,[16] Avital Ronell,[16] Slavoj Žižek, Alain Badiou, Jacques Derrida, Jean-Luc Nancy, Paul Virilio, Donna Haraway, Alenka Zupančič, Jacques Rancière, Bracha Ettinger, Jean Baudrillard, Catherine Malabou, Achille Mbembe, Sha Xin Wei, and Sandy Stone, etc.

[17] Notable alumni and attendees have included Lara Khaldi,[18] John Maus,[19] Gael García Bernal,[20] Ariana Reines,[21] Micah White,[22] Pablo Iglesias Turrión,[23][24] Bruce Barber[25] and Duane Rousselle.