Institute of Practical Philosophy

Director and Researcher: Dr. Robert Pepper-Smith
Promotions Co-ordinator: Dr. Carolyn Swanson
Associated Research Scholar: Dr. Janice Porteous
Professor Emeritus: Bob Lane ( Blog, Book Reviews, Interview)
Student Researcher: Syed Raza

Founded by Bob Lane, the Institute promotes innovative ways of exploring contemporary social and political problems. The Institute has, for example, hosted a conference on BC’ s new health care consent and representation agreement legislation, offered an upper level course in health care ethics at NRGH, developed a clinical case consultation workshop and hosted several symposia on such topics as genetically modified foods, environmental ethics, and social and political issues in Latin America. The Institute also publishes a chapbook series on a number of topics including health care ethics and effective social responses to crime.

Mission Statement

The Institute’s mandate is to:

  • examine central problems of contemporary society through a careful unification of theory and fact

  • engage community members in thoughtful, philosophical debate, and

  • explore topical issues through workshops, lectures, newsletters, symposiums and publications